verb. (once literary: now vulgar).—To flog on the posteriors. Hence BREECHING = a flogging.
1521. WHITTINGTON, Vulgaria, etc., (1527), 26. I studye to-daye bycause I fere a BRECHYNG.
1557. TUSSER, Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie, lxxiv., 6, 166 (S.D.S.).
| Maides, up I beseech yee, | |
| Least Mistress doe BREECH yee. |
1593. SHAKESPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, iii. 1. I am no BREECHING scholar in the schools, I’ll not be ty’d to hours, nor ’pointed times. Ibid. (1596), Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. 1. If you forget your kies, your kæs, and your cods, you must be PREECHES.
1594. NASHE, The Unfortunate Traveller, in Wks. V., 149. Heeres a stirre, thought I to my selfe after I was set at libertie, that is worse than an upbrayding lesson after a BRITCHING.
1613. R. TAILOR, The Hog hath Lost His Pearl [DODSLEY, Old Plays (REED) vi. 369]. Had not a courteous serving-man convey’d me away whilst he went to fetch whips, I think in my conscience, not respecting my honour, he would have BREECH’D me.
1620. FLETCHER, The Little French Lawyer, v. Kneeling and whining like a boy NEW-BREECH’D.
1637. MASSINGER, The Guardian, i., 1.
| How he looks! like a school-boy that had play’d the truant, | |
| And went to be BREECH’D. |
1647. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Humourous Lieutenant, iv. 4.
| Will sigh as though his heart would break, and cry | |
| Like a BREECH’D boy; not eat a bit. |
1821. SCOTT, Kenilworth, xxiv. ‘Go to,’ said Wayland, ‘thou art a prating boy, and should be BREECHED for thine assurance.’
