Breeches

Breeches is the name for a type of pants, whose form was transformed during the time of the breeches jodhpurs. While they are working well on the thigh, they are below the knee to close.

Development of the form

Breeches in the original form were worn from the late 16th century. The Breeches ( culotte ) became the symbol of the ancien regime and disappeared with this as a result of the French Revolution. Only as part of the livery of servants they remained in some places to this day.

Today, on the thighs balloon-shaped bulging shape of the breeches first became popular in the late 19th century as a riding and uniform trousers and no longer necessarily ends just below the knee. Jodhpurs are a typical example for use as breeches. With the characteristic appearance of the armed and security forces of the Third Reich closely linked, breeches came in the West as uniform pants after 1945 out of fashion. In the National People's Army of the GDR Breeches, however, were more part of the dress uniform and were worn until the integration of the NVA in the Bundeswehr.

Etymology

" Breeches " is a double plural known since about 1205. The word originated from the Old English brec or Broec, which was already the plural of broc " clothing for the legs and torso ." Originally it denoted a cloth that was worn by both men and women as undergarments. In the Middle Ages the words " breeches " and " braies " underpants designated.

In the late 16th century " breeches " began the word " jeans" as a general term for male Clothes for the lower body part to replace ( while the German "Pants", a plural, the word " fraction " repressed ). This meaning was preserved until the knee-length breeches were replaced in everyday use of long pants.

Breeches refers in the English language also includes the associated outerwear.