breeches

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   short trousers fastened at or just below the knee, historically worn by men and now especially for riding

   The rider wore beige breeches with tall black boots.

The lexicalized plural of Middle English breche or breches, from Old English brec, the plural of broc ("leg covering; garment for the loins"), from Proto-Germanic *broks. Cognates include Dutch broek and Old Norse brok. Although historically a plural of breech, modern breeches is the independent plural clothing headword; singular a breech is not used for one trouser leg.

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