Breeches

Breeches (/ˈbrɪtʃɨz/breeches or britches) are an item of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. The breeches were normally closed and fastened about the leg, along its open seams at varied lengths, and to the knee, by either buttons or by a draw-string, or by one or more straps and buckle or brooches. Formerly a standard item of Western men's clothing, had fallen out of use by the early 19th Century in favor of pantaloons and then trousers. Modern athletic garments used for English riding and fencing called breeches differ substantially from breeches as discussed in this article.