[f. the sb.]
1. trans. To make a breach in a wall, defence, natural boundary, etc.); to break through. b. fig.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, ccliii. 85 b. [Obliviousness] may come to yonge men and women when theyr mynde is bryched.
1803. Wellington, Lett., in Gurw., Disp., II. 479. If the wall … should be breached when the place shall be stormed.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. IV. iv. 149. The English had breached the fort.
1845. Darwin, Voy. Nat., xx. (1852), 477. Every reef of the fringing class is breached by a narrow gateway in front of the smallest rivulet.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., 193. It often happens that the lava … breaches one side of the conical hill.
† 2. intr. To make or cause a breach; to quarrel, separate. Obs.
1573. Tusser, Husb., 2nd Ep. Ded. xi. At first for want of teaching, At first for trifles breaching.
1641. R. Brooke, Eng. Episc., I. ix. 52. If the Church will breach (with the Anabaptists).
3. Naut. Of whales: To leap out of the water.
a. 1843. See BREACHING.
1854. Chamb. Journ., I. 53. ‘There she blows again!… There she breaches.’
1866. Kingsley, Herew., v. 115. They saw a whale spouting and breaching.
