Where does “britches” come from?
Britches, a dialectal variant of breeches, derives from Middle English breche, Old English bryċe, Proto-Germanic brōkiz and brōks, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰrāg-.
britches (English): Alternative form of breeches
Definitions
- Alternative form of breeches
Ancestry of “britches”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | breeches | plural of breech; API pl; A garment worn by men,... |
| 2 | Middle English | breches | — |
| 3 | Old English | brēċ | breeches |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | brōkiz | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | brōks | rear end, rump, hindquarters; leggings, pants,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | brāks | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰrāg- | rump, hock, hindquarters |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰrēǵ- | to shine, shimmer |