KNEE BREECHES

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does knee breeches mean? 

• KNEE BREECHES (noun)
  The noun KNEE BREECHES has 1 sense:

1. (used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee

  Familiarity information: KNEE BREECHES used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• KNEE BREECHES (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(used in the plural) trousers ending above the knee

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

breeches; knee breeches; knee pants; knickerbockers; knickers

Hypernyms ("knee breeches" is a kind of...):

pair of trousers; pant; trousers ((usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately)

Meronyms (parts of "knee breeches"):

codpiece ((15th-16th century) a flap for the crotch of men's tight-fitting breeches)

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "knee breeches"):

britches ((used in the plural) informal term for breeches)

buckskins ((used in the plural) breeches made of buckskin)

plus fours (men's baggy knickers hanging below the knees; formerly worn for sports (especially golf))

trunk hose (puffed breeches of the 16th and 17th centuries usually worn over hose)

 Context examples 

There were milkmaids and shepherdesses, with brightly colored bodices and golden spots all over their gowns; and princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple; and shepherds dressed in knee breeches with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them, and golden buckles on their shoes; and princes with jeweled crowns upon their heads, wearing ermine robes and satin doublets; and funny clowns in ruffled gowns, with round red spots upon their cheeks and tall, pointed caps. And, strangest of all, these people were all made of china, even to their clothes, and were so small that the tallest of them was no higher than Dorothy's knee.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)