breek
(briːk)
Forms: 3–6 breke, 6 breik, 7 breeke, 5– breek.
[North. Eng. and Sc. variant of breech n.]
1. A garment covering the loins and thighs; = breech n. 1. † a. Formerly in singular. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 2048 Was funden þan na breke in land. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 48 Breche or breke, braccæ. a 1528 Skelton Elynour Rumm. 452 The vertue..Of her husbands breke. |
b. Now only in pl. breeks = breeches, trousers.
| 1552 Lyndesay Monarche 985 And maid thame Breikis of leuis grene. 1632 B. Jonson Magn. Lady v. v, I ha' linnen Breeks on. 1651 Proc. Parliament No. 84. 1282 To slip off their breeks, that so they may wade up to their middle. 1814 Scott Wav. xlviii, It's ill taking the breeks off a Highlandman. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxx. (1856) 263 A pair of coarse woollen drawers, and a pair of seal-skin breeks over them. 1855 Whitby Gloss., Breeks, breeches. |
† 2. The buttocks, rump, posterior. Obs.
| 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (1856) 69 They beginne usually on the belly..greasinge tayle and breeke last. |