breeching noun. ['bri:tʃɪŋ, 'brɪtʃ-] E16.
[from BREECH noun, verb + -ING¹.]
1. A strong leather strap passing round the hindquarters of a shaft-horse, enabling the horse to push backwards. E16.

2. A flogging. E16-E17.

3. Nautical. A thick rope used to secure the carriages of cannon etc. and to absorb the force of the recoil. E17.

4. = breech action s.v. BREECH noun. E19.

Comb.:
breeching-boy, breeching scholar a young scholar still subject to the birch.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲