breech

/bri:tʃ/

Thân thiện

A soldier carefully loads a cartridge into the breech of his rifle.

Definition

Noun: 1. The rear part of a firearm barrel: Specifically, the opening at the back end of a gun's barrel where ammunition (cartridges or shells) is loaded. 2. The lower or back part of something: An archaic or technical term for the buttocks or the lower rear portion of a body or object.

Usage

The word "breech" is primarily a technical term used in the context of firearms and weaponry. It is a countable noun.

Examples: * The soldier carefully loaded the shell into the breech of the cannon. * Modern rifles are typically breech-loading, meaning ammunition is inserted at the rear of the barrel. * (Archaic/Technical) In a difficult birth, the baby may be in a breech position, meaning the buttocks or feet are positioned to come out first.

Advanced Usage

• "Breech birth/presentation": A medical term for a childbirth situation where the baby's buttocks or feet are positioned to emerge before the head.
• "Breech face": In firearms, the flat part of the breechblock that supports the base of the cartridge.

Variants and Related Words

• Breechblock (noun): The metal block that closes the rear opening (breech) of a gun barrel.
• Breechloader (noun): A firearm that is loaded at the breech (the rear of the barrel), as opposed to the muzzle (the front).
• Breech-loading (adjective): Describing a firearm that is loaded at the breech.
• Breach (noun/verb): A different word meaning a gap, break, or violation (e.g., a of contract). Do not confuse with "breech."

Synonyms

• For the firearm part: rear, chamber end, loading port.
• For the archaic anatomical sense: buttocks, rear, posterior.

Related Phrases

• "Breech of the peace": This is an archaic legal phrase, now more commonly known as a "breach of the peace." Note the spelling difference ( vs. ).

Học thuật

Noun

1. opening in the rear of the barrel of a gun where bullets can be loaded

Từ đồng nghĩa

• rear of barrel
• rear of tube