Breeches

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Breeches in the historical form as part of the livery of a coachman of the Dutch royal court (2013)
Breeches in a modern form: sergeant major of the Wehrmacht (1941)

Breeches is the name for a type of trousers , the shape of which changed over time from knee breeches to breeches . While it is worked wide on the thigh , it is close below the knee .

Development of form

Breeches in their original form were worn from the late 16th century. The breeches ( culottes ) became the symbol of the Ancien Régime and disappeared with it as a result of the French Revolution . Only as part of the servants' livery has it been preserved in some places to this day.

The current shape of the breeches, which is balloon-shaped at the thighs, became popular in the late 19th century as riding and uniform trousers and no longer necessarily ends directly below the knee. Jodhpurs are a typical example of their use as riding breeches. Closely associated with the characteristic appearance of the German armed and security forces during the Nazi era , breeches as uniform trousers went out of fashion in West Germany after 1945. In the National People's Army of the GDR , however, breeches were still part of the service and parade uniform of officers and ensigns and were worn until May 1990.

Word origin

Breeches is a double plural known since about 1205. The word originated from the Old English brēċ or brœ̄ċ , which was already the plural of brōc 'clothes for legs and torso'. Originally it referred to a cloth that was worn by both men and women as underwear. In the Middle Ages, the words breeches and braies denoted underpants.

In the late 16th century, breeches began to replace the word trousers as a general term for male outerwear for the lower part of the body (while the German 'Hosen', also a plural, replaced the word Bruch ). This meaning continued until the knee-length breeches were replaced by long pants in everyday use.

In the English-speaking world, Breeches also includes the associated outerwear.

See also

swell

Web links

Commons : Breeches  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Breeches  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
  • Petticoat Breeches and Rhinegraves Louis XIV and the noblewoman on the left with petticoat breeches ; the men in black and the nobleman on the right carry Rhinegraves , also a kind of breeches .