breaststroke
UK[ˈbrɛs(t)strəʊk]US[ˈbrɛs(t)stroʊk]
n
a swimming stroke performed on the chest with the arms moving in a circular motion in front of the body and the legs performing a frog kick.
Morpheme Breakdown
breast
stroke
breast
stroke
Etymology
the word 'breaststroke' is a transparent english compound formed from two native old english elements. 'breast' refers to the chest, indicating the swimmer's prone position, while 'stroke' denotes a specific, repeated movement. the term emerged in the 19th century to describe this particular swimming style, characterized by symmetrical arm and leg motions performed while the chest faces the water. its logic is entirely descriptive, naming the stroke by the body part most associated with its execution and the type of motion involved.
Analysis
Structure: breast + stroke
- breast (old english): from old english 'brēost', meaning the chest or front of the body. in this compound, it denotes the body position.
- stroke (old english): from old english 'strāc', meaning a blow or the act of striking. in this compound, it refers to a specific movement or style in swimming.
Examples
she won the gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke.
learning the proper timing for the breaststroke kick can be challenging for beginners.
his breaststroke technique is very efficient, allowing him to glide through the water smoothly.