breech
UK[briːtʃ]US[briːtʃ]
n
the part of a cannon or firearm at the rear of the bore, which is opened for loading.
n
the lower part of the human trunk; the buttocks.
n
a piece of clothing covering the loins and thighs; britches.
Etymology
the word breech originates from the old english 'brēc', the plural form of 'brōc', referring to a garment covering the lower body. this old english term is derived from the proto-germanic 'brōkiz', which meant leg covering or trousers. the semantic journey saw the meaning expand from the clothing itself to the anatomical part it covered—the buttocks and lower trunk. this anatomical sense was then extended into gunnery terminology in the 16th century, where 'breech' came to denote the rear part of a firearm or cannon, analogous to the 'rear' of the body.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it is a loanword from old english 'brēc', which was the plural of 'brōc', meaning a garment for the loins and thighs. its functional role is as a complete lexical root.
Examples
the soldier carefully loaded the powder into the gun's breech.
the baby was in a breech position before birth.
in historical reenactments, they often wear leather breeches.