adv. [ Pref. a- + breast. ]
Abreast therewith began a convocation. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]
adj. wearing no covering for the breasts or featuring such nudity.
n. (Zool.) A small European bird; the blue-throated warbler. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
The court breasted the popular current by sustaining the demurrer. Wirt. [ 1913 Webster ]
To breast up a hedge,
n. [ OE. brest, breost, As. breóst; akin to Icel. brjōst, Sw. bröst, Dan. bryst, Goth. brusts, OS. briost, D. borst, G. brust. ]
My brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother. Cant. viii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]
Mountains on whose barren breast
The laboring clouds do often rest. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
He has a loyal breast. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
Breast drill,
Breast pang.
To make a clean breast,
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Mach.) The front transverse beam of a locomotive. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The bone of the breast; the sternum. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Deep as from the breast to the feet; as high as the breast. [ 1913 Webster ]
Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Having a breast; -- used in composition with qualifying words, in either a literal or a metaphorical sense;
The close minister is buttoned up, and the brave officer open-breasted, on these occasions. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Naut.) A large rope to fasten the midship part of a ship to a wharf, or to another vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The interior slope of a fortification, against which the garrison lean in firing. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. High as the breast. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A knot of ribbons worn on the breast. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A pin worn on the breast for a fastening, or for ornament; a brooch. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
Before his old rusty breastplate could be scoured, and his cracked headpiece mended. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The upper rail of any parapet of ordinary height, as of a balcony; the railing of a quarter-deck, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. See Breastband. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Arch.) A summer or girder extending across a building flush with, and supporting, the upper part of a front or external wall; a long lintel; a girder; -- used principally above shop windows.
n. A water wheel, on which the stream of water strikes neither so high as in the overshot wheel, nor so low as in the undershot, but generally at about half the height of the wheel, being kept in contact with it by the breasting. The water acts on the float boards partly by impulse, partly by its weight. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
. Abscess of the mammary gland. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
a. Having a narrow, projecting chest, caused by forward curvature of the vertebral column. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Arch.) The horizontal projection of a chimney from the wall in which it is built; -- commonly applied to its projection in the inside of a building only. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Folding or lapping over on the breast, with a row of buttons and buttonholes on each side;
v. t. To surpass in singing. See Breast, n., 6. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Having a breast like a pigeon, -- the sternum being so prominent as to constitute a deformity; chicken-breasted. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
a. Lapping over the breast only far enough to permit of buttoning, and having buttons on one edge only;
a. Having a sweet, musical voice, as the nightingale. Cf. Breast, n., 6. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. [ 1st pref. un- + breast. ] To disclose, or lay open; to unbosom. [ Obs. ] P. Fletcher, [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Zool.) The goosander. [ Local, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]