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# breeches

noun (breeches, plural)

«breeches» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Short trousers fastened just below the knee, worn by men in the past and today for horse riding (riding breeches). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#m1)
2. (informal, old) Trousers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#m2)

### In the lessons

In history lessons, Tudor, Stuart and Georgian men wore breeches with long stockings; boys were «breeched» (put into breeches) when they were about 5–7. Riders wear tight riding breeches. In The Wind in the Willows, Toad dresses up in fine clothes; in pictures of old times, gentlemen and servants wear breeches. Phrase: «too big for your breeches» (or britches) means too proud of yourself.

### Examples

- The king wore velvet breeches and white stockings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#x1)
- She pulled on her riding breeches before her lesson. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#x2)
- Pirates wore loose breeches. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#x3)
- He's getting too big for his breeches since he won. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#x4)
- The footman wore breeches and buckled shoes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#x5)
- Breeches stop just below the knee. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#x6)
- Breeches of crimson velvet, silk stockings, and low, silver-buckled slippers completed his costume. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/#x7)

### Note

Always plural: «a pair of breeches». Sounds like «BRITCH-iz», not «BREE-chiz». US informal spelling britches.

## In Jewish tradition

Breeches were linen trousers worn by the priests under their robes, to cover their bodies.

**Interpretation.** Tradition teaches that the priests' modesty matters in the holy place, and that the breeches were one of the eight garments of the high priest.

### Examples

- and the mitre of fine linen, and the goodly head-tires of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen, (Torah EXO.39.28, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/breeches/#x1)
- And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach. (Torah EXO.28.42, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/breeches/#x2)
- They shall have linen tires upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat. (Prophets EZK.44.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/breeches/#x3)

### Note

Always plural: «a pair of breeches». Sounds like «BRITCH-iz», not «BREE-chiz». US informal spelling britches.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «breeches» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/breeches/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«breeches» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/breeches.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «breeches» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/breeches/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«breeches» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/breeches.html) on Mova free.