breeches
2 synonyms for breeches, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Trousers that end at or just below the knee, historically menswear, now mostly seen in riding and formal military dress.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use breeches
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
riding breeches
knee breeches
a pair of breeches
Sounds dated or formal in everyday speech — most people just say "trousers" or "pants" today.
Etymology
From Old English brēċ, "leggings" or "underpants" — the same ancient root as "breech".
Full origin of breeches →Frequently asked questions
What does “breeches” mean?
The word “breeches” means trousers that end at or just below the knee, historically menswear, now mostly seen in riding and formal military dress. In plain terms, old-fashioned or specialist trousers that stop around the knee, still worn for horse riding and some ceremonial uniforms.
How do you pronounce “breeches”?
“Breeches” is pronounced BREE-chihz (/ˈbɹiː.t͡ʃɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “breeches” in a sentence?
Here is “breeches” used in a sentence: “The jockey wore tall boots and cream breeches.”
What part of speech is “breeches”?
“Breeches” is a noun.
Where does the word “breeches” come from?
The word “breeches” comes from Old English. From Old English brēċ, "leggings" or "underpants" — the same ancient root as "breech".
