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Glite Dictionary
🐎 A harness strap 👖 First trousers
breeching

breeching

9.9
A strap around the rear of a horse that helps stop a cart or wagon
  • noun
  • /ˈbriːtʃɪŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : freno
  • Before setting off, the farmer checked the breeching to make sure it was secure around the horse.

Examples

  • The breeching kept the wagon from sliding forward when the horse stopped suddenly.

  • Without proper breeching, the cart could push dangerously against the animal on steep hills.

  • The breeching on the harness was adjusted for better control.

  • I need to check the breeching before we start the ride.

  • The breeching kept the wagon from sliding forward when the horse stopped suddenly.

  • Before setting off, the farmer checked the breeching to make sure it was secure around the horse.

  • Without proper breeching, the cart could push dangerously against the animal on steep hills.

Surface Forms

breeching singular
breechings plural

Morphology

breeching = breech (semi-transparent) = breech + ing

The form clearly contains breech + -ing, and the sense is motivated by the idea of the rear part, but the specific harness function is specialized.

Etymology

Breeching for the harness strap comes from an old word for breeches, meaning 'pants', because the strap sits around the animal's rear like pants sit on a person. So breeching is the part that helps hold the wagon or cart back when the animal stops.