Breakneck
(Break"neck`) n.
1. A fall that breaks the neck.
2. A steep place endangering the neck.
Breakneck
(Break"neck`) a. Producing danger of a broken neck; as, breakneck speed.
Break-up
(Break"-up`) n. Disruption; a separation and dispersion of the parts or members; as, a break-
up of an assembly or dinner party; a break-up of the government.
Breakwater
(Break"wa`ter) n. Any structure or contrivance, as a mole, or a wall at the mouth of a harbor,
to break the force of waves, and afford protection from their violence.
Bream
(Bream) n. [OE. breme, brem, F. brême, OF. bresme, of German origin; cf. OHG. brahsema,
brahsina, OLG. bressemo, G. brassen. Cf. Brasse.]
1. (Zoöl) A European fresh-water cyprinoid fish of the genus Abramis, little valued as food. Several
species are known.
2. (Zoöl) An American fresh-water fish, of various species of Pomotis and allied genera, which are also
called sunfishes and pondfishes. See Pondfish.
3. (Zoöl) A marine sparoid fish of the genus Pagellus, and allied genera. See Sea Bream.
Bream
(Bream), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breamed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Breaming.] [Cf. Broom, and G. ein
schiff brennen.] (Naut.) To clean, as a ship's bottom of adherent shells, seaweed, etc., by the application
of fire and scraping.
Breast
(Breast) n. [OE. brest, breost, As. breóst; akin to Icel. brjost, Sw. bröst, Dan. bryst, Goth.
brusts, OS. briost, D. borst, G. brust.]
1. The fore part of the body, between the neck and the belly; the chest; as, the breast of a man or of a
horse.
2. Either one of the protuberant glands, situated on the front of the chest or thorax in the female of man
and of some other mammalia, in which milk is secreted for the nourishment of the young; a mamma; a
teat.
My brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother.
Cant. viii. 1.
3. Anything resembling the human breast, or bosom; the front or forward part of anything; as, a chimney
breast; a plow breast; the breast of a hill.
Mountains on whose barren breast
The laboring clouds do often rest.
Milton.
4. (Mining) (a) The face of a coal working. (b) The front of a furnace.
5. The seat of consciousness; the repository of thought and self-consciousness, or of secrets; the seat of
the affections and passions; the heart.
He has a loyal breast.
Shak.
6. The power of singing; a musical voice; — so called, probably, from the connection of the voice with the
lungs, which lie within the breast. [Obs.]
By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast.
Shak.
