Breast drill
,
a portable drilling machine, provided with a breastplate, for forcing the drill against the
work. - - Breast pang. See Angina pectoris, under Angina. — To make a clean breast, to disclose
the secrets which weigh upon one; to make full confession.
Breast
(Breast), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Breasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Breasting.] To meet, with the breast; to
struggle with or oppose manfully; as, to breast the storm or waves.
The court breasted the popular current by sustaining the demurrer.
Wirt.
To breast up a hedge,
to cut the face of it on one side so as to lay bare the principal upright stems of
the plants.
Breastband
(Breast"band`) n. A band for the breast. Specifically: (Naut.) A band of canvas, or a rope,
fastened at both ends to the rigging, to support the man who heaves the lead in sounding.
Breastbeam
(Breast"beam`) n. (Mach.) The front transverse beam of a locomotive.
Breastbone
(Breast"bone`) n. The bone of the breast; the sternum.
Breast-deep
(Breast"-deep`) a. Deep as from the breast to the feet; as high as the breast.
Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him.
Shak.
Breasted
(Breast"ed), a. Having a breast; — used in composition with qualifying words, in either a literal
or a metaphorical sense; as, a single-breasted coat.
The close minister is buttoned up, and the brave officer open-breasted, on these occasions.
Spectator.
Breastfast
(Breast"fast`) n. (Naut.) A large rope to fasten the midship part of a ship to a wharf, or to
another vessel.
Breastheight
(Breast"height`) n. The interior slope of a fortification, against which the garrison lean in
firing.
Breast-high
(Breast"-high`) a. High as the breast.
Breasthook
(Breast"hook`) n. (Naut.) A thick piece of timber in the form of a knee, placed across the
stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on each side. Totten.
Breasting
(Breast"ing), n. (Mach.) The curved channel in which a breast wheel turns. It is closely
adapted to the curve of the wheel through about a quarter of its circumference, and prevents the escape
of the water until it has spent its force upon the wheel. See Breast wheel.
Breastknot
(Breast"knot`) n. A knot of ribbons worn on the breast. Addison.
Breastpin
(Breast"pin`) n. A pin worn on the breast for a fastening, or for ornament; a brooch.
Breastplate
(Breast"plate`) n.
1. A plate of metal covering the breast as defensive armor.
Before his old rusty breastplate could be scoured, and his cracked headpiece mended.
Swift.
2. A piece against which the workman presses his breast in operating a breast drill, or other similar tool.
3. A strap that runs across a horse's breast. Ash.