Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - breeches

n.pl. (also pair of breeches sing.) 1 short trousers, esp. fastened below the knee, now used esp. for riding or in court costume. 2 colloq. any trousers, knickerbockers, or underpants. Phrases and idioms Breeches Bible the Geneva Bible of 1560 with breeches for aprons in Gen. 3:7. breeches buoy a lifebuoy suspended from a rope which has canvas breeches for the user's legs. Etymology: pl. of BREECH