Knee n.
 1. In man, the joint in the middle part of the leg.
 2. Anat. (a) The joint, or region of the joint, between the thigh and leg. (b) In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in man.
 3. Mech. & Shipbuilding A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent.
 4. A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy.
    Give them title, knee, and approbation.   --Shak.
 Knee breeches. See under Breeches.
 Knee holly, Knee holm Bot., butcher's broom.
 Knee joint. See in the Vocabulary.
 Knee timber, timber with knees or angles in it.
 Knee tribute, or Knee worship, tribute paid by kneeling; worship by genuflection. [Obs.] “Knee tribute yet unpaid.”
 Breech·es n. pl.
 1. A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes.
    His jacket was red, and his breeches were blue.   --Coleridge.
 2. Trousers; pantaloons. [Colloq.]
 Breeches buoy, in the life-saving service, a pair of canvas breeches depending from an annular or beltlike life buoy which is usually of cork. This contrivance, inclosing the person to be rescued, is hung by short ropes from a block which runs upon the hawser stretched from the ship to the shore, and is drawn to land by hauling lines.
 Breeches pipe, a forked pipe forming two branches united at one end.
 Knee breeches, breeches coming to the knee, and buckled or fastened there; smallclothes.
 To wear the breeches, to usurp the authority of the husband; -- said of a wife. [Colloq.]
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 knee breeches
      n : trousers ending above the knee [syn: breeches, knee pants,
           knickerbockers, knickers]