breech

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*brōks“clothing for loins and thighs”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*brōkiz pl
3. Old English · inherited frombrēċ
4. Middle English · inherited frombreche
5. English todaybreech

From Middle English breche, from Old English brēċ, from Proto-Germanic *brōkiz pl, from Proto-Germanic *brōks (“clothing for loins and thighs”). Cognate with Dutch broek, Alemannic German Bruech, Swedish brok. Doublet of vraka.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 11th c. A garment whose purpose is to cover or clothe the buttocks.
• from 16th c. The buttocks or backside.
• from 16th c. The part of a cannon or other firearm behind the chamber.