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Breeches are still worn as livery for special occasions in several European courts. Here, a coachman in the Netherlands wears them duringPrinsjesdag, 2013.Breeches as worn in the United States in the late 18th century:Elijah Boardman byRalph Earl, 1789.
Breeches (/ˈbrɪtʃɪz,ˈbriː-/BRITCH-iz,BREE-chiz)[1] are an article ofclothing covering the body from thewaist down, with separate coverings for eachleg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. Formerly a standard item ofWestern men's clothing, they had fallen out of use by the mid-19th century in favour oftrousers.
Modern athletic garments used forEnglish riding andfencing, although calledbreeches orbritches, differ from breeches.
Breeches is adouble plural known sincec. 1205, fromOld Englishbrēc, the plural ofbrōc "garment for the legs and trunk", from the Indo-European root*bhrg- "break", here apparently used in the sense "divide", "separate", as in Scottish Gaelicbriogais ("trousers"), in Bretonbragoù ("pants"), in Irishbríste[2] ("trousers") andbrycan orbrogau in Welsh. Cognate with theProto-Germanic word*brōk-, plural*brōkiz, itself most likely from the Proto-Indo-European root; whence also theOld Norse wordbrók, which shows up in the epithet of the Viking kingRagnar Loðbrók, Ragnar "Hairy-breeches".
Like other words for similar garments (e.g.,pants,knickers, andshorts) the wordbreeches has been applied to both outer garments andundergarments.Breeches uses a plural form to reflect it has two legs; the word has no singular form (it is aplurale tantum). This construction is common in English and Italian (brache, plural of the never-usedbraca), but is no longer common in some other languages in which it was once common; e.g., the parallel modernDutch:broek.
At firstbreeches indicated a cloth worn as underwear by both men and women.Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, uses the word breech as a synonym or perhaps a euphemism foranus in his letters.
In the latter 16th century,breeches began to replacehose (while the GermanHosen, also a plural, oustedBruch) as the general English term for men's lower outer garments, a usage that remained standard until knee-length breeches were replaced for everyday wear by long pantaloons or trousers. The difference was that hose were in principle separate garments for each leg, requiring the tunic or acod-piece to cover the private parts; whereas breeches were sewn together as a single all-enveloping garment.
Until around the end of the 19th century (but later in some places), small boys wore special forms ofdresses until they were "breeched", or given the adult male styles of clothes, at about the age of 6 to 8 (the age fell slowly to perhaps 3). Male and female children's styles were distinguished by chest and collar, as well as other aspects of attire, such as hairstyle.
During theFrench Revolution, breeches (culottes in French) were seen as a symbol of the nobility and more prosperous members of the bourgeoisie (including professionals such as lawyers, bankers, and physicians). Lower-class revolutionaries became known assans-culottes ("without breeches"), as they could not afford breeches and worepantaloons or trousers instead.
The spellingbritches is a spelling variant, not acorruption, dating from the 17th century. Currently,britches reflects a common pronunciation often used in casual speech to meantrousers or pants in many English-speaking parts of the world.Breeks is aScots or northern English spelling and pronunciation.
The singular form of the word has survived in the sense of the part of the body covered by breeches, (i.e., posterior,buttocks); paradoxically, the alliterative expression "bare breech" thus means without any inner or outer breeches.[3]
A pair of buckles for dress breeches. The T-hook of the buckle is inserted into a buttonhole on the strap at the bottoms of the leg of the breeches. The end of the strap is slipped through, the prongs lowered and then the end slipped through the other side of the buckle.
The termsbreeches orknee-breeches specifically designate the knee-length garments worn by men from the later 16th century to the early 19th century. After that, they survived in England only in very formal wear, such as thelivery worn by some servants into the early 20th century, and the court dress worn by others, such asKing's Counsel, down to the present day on formal occasions.
Spanish breeches, stiff, ungathered breeches popular from the 1630s until the 1650s.
Petticoat breeches, very full, ungathered breeches popular from the 1650s until the early 1660s, giving the impression of a woman'spetticoat.
Rhinegraves, full, gathered breeches popular from the early 1660s until the mid-1670s, often worn with an overskirt over them.
Fall front breeches, breeches with a panel or flap covering the front opening and fastened up with buttons at either corner.
Dress breeches are tight-fitting and have buttons and a strap and buckle (which are detachable) closure at the bottoms, made of velvet orbarathea wool, used for livery, formal and court dress.
From the 1890s to the 1930s a form of breeches calledknickerbockers or knickers (US) were in fashion with both men and boys. Like their 18th century predecessor, they reached and were fastened just below the knees, but the thighs were more loosely worn. There were various versions including "plus fours" for golf wear which reached down a further four inches below the knees, or "plus twos" that reached down only two inches, often used as apparel for the sport of bird-shooting, especially in Britain.
Vráka (Greek:βράκα) are the traditional breeches of the islands ofGreece from the westernmostIonian Islands to the easternmost,Cyprus, and the southern coast of thePeloponnese. Greek breeches are extremely roomy and are meant to be tucked inside tall boots just below the knee. They were originally meant to facilitate movement on fishing boats and sailing ships.
They are usually accompanied by a long, wide piece of cloth turned many times around the natural waist as a belt. As thevráka lack pockets, items (such as money) are stored inside the folds of this belt.Vrákes are usually made of sturdy cottondouble cloth, usually dark blue or black, with brighter color cloth used as the belt. They were usually worn with white, long-sleeved shirts and a roomy waistcoat.
In Cyprus, thevráka was originally made of white material which was then sent to a dyer known as apoyatzyis (πογιατζιής inCypriot Greek, related Standard Modern Greekμπογιάτζης, "painter", but semanticallyβαφέας,vaféas) togarment dye thevrákes after making-up.
In contrast to its present-day use, black-colouredvrákes in Cyprus were worn as a formal dress in events such as weddings or for going to church on Sunday, whereas the everydayvráka that Cypriot men wore were of thin blue or white cloth in the summer, and thicker dark blue cloth (similar to the Cretan bluevráka) in the winter. In the hills, Cypriot men wore shortervrákes in order to make their work easier and worefrangopodínes (φραγκοποδίνες, "Frankish boots", i.e. boots in a Western European style), a knee-length boot. In large cities of Cyprus, thevráka was always black.[5]
Riding breeches are specifically designed forequestrian activities. Traditionally, they were tight in the legs, stopping about halfway down the calf, with buttons or laces in the calf section, and had a pronounced flare through the thighs that allowed freedom of movement for the rider. Before the invention of thefly front, they were made with flaps, 5 inches (13 cm) to 8 inches (20 cm) wide, calledfalls.[6]
However, with the advent of modern stretch materials such asspandex, many modern breeches have no flare and fit skin-tight. In some cases, zippers and velcro fastenings have replaced laces and buttons at the calves as well. The flared style is seen at times, and is available tocavalry and other historicreenactors.
There are four main types of riding breeches:
Knee-patch breeches
Breeches that stop mid-calf, designed to be worn withtall boots, which come up to the knee, or withhalf chaps and shortpaddock boots. They have grippy material, usually suede leather or a "grippy" synthetic, only on the inside of the knee area. These are the only type of breeches worn byhunt seat riders.Show jumpers,eventers,show hunters, as well as someendurance riders, and pleasure riders also often use the breeches.[7]
Full seat breeches
Breeches with suede or another grippy material from the knee, up the inner thigh, and across the buttocks. These breeches are primarily seen indressage competition, where the "sticky" seat helps riders stay quiet and deep in the saddle as they sit thegaits of theirhorses. However, they are also worn byeventers and other riders. They are designed to be worn withtall boots orhalf chaps.[7]
Jockeys' breeches
Also known assilks, jockeys' breeches are made from a white lightweight fabric, usuallynylon and typically have elasticised lower legs. Some racing authorities have regulations that require a jockey's name to be inscribed along the thigh of the breeches.
These breeches, which are also calledjodhpurs, are a type of riding pants with legs extending to the ankles, where they end in a small cuff that fits over the top of a low riding boot. They are commonly placed in a separate category from other types of breeches due to their additional length. They are most often worn by children. However, they are worn by adults in the show ring in the United Kingdom and Australia, and in the United States are seen on adults during riding lessons and for casual riding. These riding pants have elastic straps or "stirrups" that run under the rider's boots, and are usually worn with garters, to prevent them from riding up. They are meant to be worn withjodhpur boots, also known as "paddock boots", which come up just above the ankles. The advantage of jodhpurs is that expensive highriding boots are not required to protect the calf of the leg from rubbing against the horse's flank or the stirrup leathers.[7]
Kentucky jodhpurs
Kentucky jodhpurs are full-length riding pants used exclusively insaddle seat style riding. Like hunt seat jodhpurs, they are close-fitting from waist to ankle, but differ in that they are much longer, ending with a flared bell bottom that fits over the jodhpur boot, usually extending longer than the heel of the boot in back, and covering the arch of the foot (but not the toe) in front. The overall look gives the impression of a rider with a long leg, a desiredequitation standard. Like the hunt seat jodhpur, they have elastic straps that run under the boot to help hold the pant leg in place.[7]
Color is important in selecting breeches for competition. Sanctioning organizations and tradition both dictate that show clothing is to be quiet, classic and conservative in design. White is common indressage, and is also seen inshow jumping. Beige is seen in mosthunt seat-style equestrian disciplines, though light grays, "canary" (a dull yellow), rust, tan, and an olive-greenish colour are periodically popular with hunt seat competitors.Eventers wear classic colours for the dressage and stadium phase, but less classic colours may be seen on the cross-country course (especially at the lower levels) to match the "stable colours" of the rider.Saddle seat riders, whose riding clothing styles derived from men's business suits, wear Kentucky jodhpurs in dark colors, usually black, navy blue, or a shade that matches the riding coat.[7]
Breeches may be front or side zip. Some competitors believe the side-zip to give a cleaner appearance and to be more flattering. Styles are also developing to parallel trends in street clothing, including low-rise breeches and brightly colored and patterned breeches & jodhpurs that are aimed primarily at children.
Riding breeches were formerly made of thick cavalry-twill and had flared thighs (balloon legs), until the invention and use of multi-stretch fabrics likeNylon andSpandex became widespread for riding in the 1960s. The balloon legs were there to accommodate the riders knees as they sat in the saddle, but fabrics that stretched in all four directions made such excess material unnecessary and the form-fitting and much thinner modern breeches and jodhpurs became normal.
Fencing breeches are worn in the sport offencing to permit fencers to extend their legs more than they could wearing normal jogging trousers or tracksuit bottoms. Fencing breeches are also used asprotective clothing for the legs.
Hebrew Priests were commanded in theLaw of Moses (Exodus 28:42) to wear breeches (basically underwear) when they ministered in theTabernacle: "And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach."
TheBreeches Bible, a Geneva-edited Bible of 1560, was so called on account of rendition of Genesis iii.7 (already inWyclif): "They sewed figge leaves together, and made themselves breeches."
Daniele da Volterra, an Italian artist nicknamed "the breeches maker"(il braghettone)
^"breech".Memidex Dictionary/Thesaurus.Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved2011-06-03.
^"Η Κυπριακη παραδοσιακη ενδυμασια" [The Cypriot traditional attire].EllinwnParadosi.blogspot.com (in Greek).Archived from the original on June 29, 2019. RetrievedJune 29, 2019.
^Waugh, Norah (1964).The Cut of Men's CLothes, 1600-1900. New York: Theatre Arts Books.p. 116
^abcdePrice, Steven D. (ed.)The Whole Horse Catalog: Revised and Updated New York: Fireside 1998ISBN0-684-83995-4 pp. 211–15
