The idea is met with in English at about the same date in a carol, the burden of which is founded on it:—
14(?). Songs and Carols of the Fifteenth Century, Percy Soc. Pub., vol. XXIII., p. 65. Nova, nova, sawe you ever such, The moste mayster of the hows weryth no brych.
Also a little later, from the same collection:—
The Boke of Maid Emlyn, vol. VI., p. 21. All women be suche, Thoughe the man wear the breche.
It is curious to note also that the expression has cropped up in most languages. The Dutch say, 'De vrouw draagd'er de broek'; the Germans, 'Sie hat die Hosen.' The Germans have also other 'breeches' sayings; as e.g., 'Das Hertz ist ihm in die Hosen gefallen.' Other illustrative quotations are:—
1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. lxvii. st. 18, 156 (E.D.S.). Least some should talke, as is the speech, The good wiues' husband weares no breech.
1591. Nashe, A Prognostication, in wks. II., 158. Diverse great stormes are this yere to be feared, especially in houses where the wives weare the breeches.
1663. T. Killigrew, Parson's Wedding, ii., 3, in Dodsley's O. P. (1780), xi., 413. Anything that may get rule; I love to wear the breeches.
1724. Swift, Misc. Poems, in wks. (1824) XIV., 199. Those men, who wore the breeches least, Call'd him a cuckold, fool, and beast.
1820. Coombe, Syntax, Consolation, ch. v. When she doth wear the breeches; And the poor fool dare not resist The terrors of her threat'ning fist.
1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 4. Mrs. T. No, no—no mischief—harkye, you did me a service just now in the street. Tom. I know I did, down by the pump. Mrs. T. Well, now, I'll do you one—my husband i asleep: I have the keys; and I wear the breeches.
Breeching, verbal subs. (school-*boys').—A flogging. Like breech (q.v.), formerly in general use.
1520. Whittington, Vulg. (1527), 26. I studye to-day to-daye bycause I fere a brechyng.
1594. Nashe, 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 vpbrayding lesson after a britching.
Breef.—See Brief.
Breeze, subs. (general).—A row; quarrel; disturbance; coolness. [From breeze, a cool wind.]
1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. To kick up a breeze, to breed a disturbance.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib's Memorial to Congress, p. 5. But, though we must hope for such good times as these, Yet, as something may happen to kick up a breeze.
1865. Saturday Review, 28 Jan., p. 119. 'Don't be angry; we've had our breeze. Shake hands!' [m.]
Brekker, subs. (Oxford University).—Breakfast. [Formed by phonetically taking the first syllable of 'breakfast' + er, a species of slang formation, which originated at Harrow.]—See 'Comparative and Historical Study of Slang' at the end of this work.
Brevet Hell, subs. (American).—A nickname for a battle, which originated during the Civil War. The meaning is obvious enough. The carnage and bloodshed of a battle-field is only a degree short of the horrors of the theological 'hell.' Compare with brevet-wife, brevet-rank.
