ˈforebreast
[OE. forbréost (rendering L. præcordia), f. for-2, fore- prefix + bréost, breast n.]
1. Sc. The fore part of anything.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace vii. 1189 At the forbreist thai prewit hardely. 1825–80 Jamieson, Fore-breast, as the fore-breast o' the laft, the front-seat of the gallery in a church. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb i. (1873) 13 And then, mounting the ‘forebreist’ [of a cart] himself, started again. |
| attrib. 1513 Douglas æneis xi. xv. 19 The forbreist lappis. |
2. Mining. (See
quot.)
= forefield.
| 1747 Hooson Miner's Dict., Forebrest, Forfield or Forehead. Those are all the same but the most Antient Name amongst the Old Miners is Forfield; and it is always that Quantity of Wholes which he takes in his compass before him, as he cuts his way be it more or less. 1880 C. C. Adley in Rep. Pioneer Mining Co. 2 Oct. 1 The rock in the forebreast of the level has become very hard. |