Breast

Forms: 1–4 breost, 3–8 brest; (also 4 Kent bryest, 4–5 breest, breste, 4–6 north. breist, 5–6 brist, birst), 6– breast. [OE. bréost = OFris. briast, OS. briost, breost, ON. brjóst, (Sw. bröst, Da. bryst) neuter, answering to an OTeut. type *breusto(m): represented in Goth. by brusts fem. pl. (no sing.):—OTeut. *brust-s consonantal fem., ‘prob. originally inflected as a dual’ (Kluge), whence OHG. (MHG., mod.Ger.) brust fem., MLG. (MDu., Du.) borst fem. (with metathesis of r). The term is confined to Teutonic, there being no common Indo-Europ. name for the breast. As to the form and derivation, see below. OE. éo became normally ME. ē, ee. mod. ee (ī), and in Sc. and north dial. breast rhymes with priest; but in Standard Eng., the e has been shortened before the two consonants; the spellings breast and brest run side by side from 16th to 18th c.; in current usage we spell breast and pronounce brest.

  The difference of vowel in OTeut. *breust-, *brust- is explained by the fact that all monosyllabic consonantal stems had originally shifting stress, with corresponding ablaut (*breust-s, *brust-óz); the neuter gender in OE., OS. and ON. by the supposition that *breust-s was orig. inflected as a dual (the two breasts) of which the nom. and acc. *breustô- would later become *breust, bréost, which after the loss of the dual would naturally be treated as neuter pl., as in other known instances. Even in senses 2, 5, the plural was usual in OE., as exclusive in Gothic. *Breust- cannot be connected with berstan, brestan to burst: but it may be related to the OS. verb. brustian to bud, and be a root-noun from a vb. *breust-an (see Lexer under brust), a specialized derivative of *breut-an (i.e., *brent-stan, *breustan; cf. *brek-stan, brestan, f. brek-an). The ‘breasts’ would thus be orig. the mammæ or paps, likened to ‘buds’ or ‘sprouts.’ See further Kluge, Beiträge, VIII. 510.]

  I.  1. Each of the two soft protuberances situated on the thorax in females, in which the milk is secreted for the nourishment of their young; the mamma; also the analogous rudimentary organ of males, the mammilla. Hence, in phrases to give, have, put to, the breast; an infant at the breast, past the breast.

  (Properly said of women, but sometimes of the lower animals.)

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke xi. 27. Þa breost [Lindisf. titto, vel breosto] þe ðu suce.

c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 182. Wiþ innoþes sare, & þæra breosta.

a. 1300.  Sarmun, lviii. in E. E. P. (1862), 7. Þat soke þe milk of maidis brest.

c. 1305.  St. Kath., 249, in E. E. P. (1862), 96. Here breostes hi to-drowe Fram hire bodi mossel mele.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. VII. 39. [The virgin Mary] took here brest [mamillam] out of here bosom.

1542–3.  Act 34 & 35 Hen. VIII., viii. § 1. As womens brestes being sore.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., I. v. 48. Come to my Womans Brests And take my Milke for Gall.

1647.  W. Browne, Polex., I. 237. When she was past the breast, he chose many young gentlemen of his Court to be of her guard.

1649.  Bp. Reynolds, Hosea, i. 1. The fruitfulness of the womb, and of the brests.

1688.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2371/4. His Majesty was pleased to order that the Breast should be given him.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 15, ¶ 2. One Country Milch-Wench, to whom I was … put to the Breast.

1843.  Macaulay, Prophecy of Capys, xiv. Thou, that … hast tugged at the she-wolf’s breast.

1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola (1878), I. 122. An amulet worn close under the right breast.

  b.  Hence fig. Source of nourishment.

1611.  Bible, Pref., 1. Upon whose breasts againe themselues doe hang to receiue the Spirituall and sincere milke of the word.

1611.  Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit., xix. (1614), 37/1. Cambridge, the other brest and nurse-mother of all pious literature.

1788.  Wesley, Wks. (1872), VII. 185. The sacraments are not dry breasts.

1872.  Yeats, Growth Comm., 249. ‘Husbandry and cattle rearing,’ he says, ‘are the two breasts whence France is nourished.’

  2.  The front of the thorax or chest, the fore-part of the body, lying between the neck and the belly. (In OE. usually in the plural, for original dual.)

Beowulf (Z.), 552. Beado hræʓl broden on breostum læʓ golde ʓegyr[wed].

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xiii. 25. Þa he hlinode ofer ðæs hælendes breostum [Lindisf. G. onufa breost ðæs hælendes].

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 34. Beateð ower breoste.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 27. He smote upon his breest.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxxiii. (1495), 144. The breste is the ouer bony parte betwene the pappes and teetes.

1440.  J. Shirley, Dethe K. James (1818), 23. The sayde hongman toke a rope, and knyt hit fast aboute thare birstes, undre thaire harmeholes.

1584.  Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 97. On his backe or brest.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 252. You must cut this flesh from off his breast.

1634.  T. Johnson, trans. Parey’s Chirurg., XI. (1678), 270. Muskets … may be called Breast-guns, for that they are not laid to the cheek, but against the breast.

1678.  Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 71. He threw a flaming, Dart at his brest.

1843.  Macaulay, Lake Regillus, xxviii. Herminius smote Mamilius Through breast-plate and through breast.

  b.  The part of a garment or a piece of armor covering the breast.

1651.  Proc. Parliament, No. 119. 1846. 310 backs with their brests, and 10 Head pots.

a. 1678.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1703), II. VI. 31. To procure old Backs, and Breasts, and Pots, with Pistols.

1830.  Fraser’s Mag., II. 436. Beruffled breasts and wrists were the order of the day.

  c.  The bosom.

1650.  Hubbert, Pill Formality, 15. It is a dangerous thing to harbor a Traytor within your brest.

  † 3.  Occasionally extended to the whole upper portion of the body, the thorax or chest. Obs.

a. 1340.  Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 679. Þe body of þat tre þar-by Es þe brest with þe bely.

1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 302. The breast as to its anterior part hath two clavicles and the os pectoris … the posterior part hath two shoulders and twelve vertebra’s.

1754–64.  Smellie, Midwif., I. Introd. 33. A perforation must be made … into the cavity of the breast.

1766.  Chesterf., Lett., 404, IV. 241. I am glad to hear that your breast is so much better.

  4.  The corresponding part in the body of the lower animals.

a. 1400.  Chester Pl., I. (1843), 31. Upon thy brest thou shalte goe and eate the earth.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 49. Breeste of a beste, pectus.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. iv. 181. The rouch byrsis on the brest and crest Of that … wilde beist.

1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 296. Broad breast, full eye, small head, and nostril wide.

1710.  Prideaux, Orig. Tithes, ii. 78. The wave brest and heave shoulder of the peace Offerings.

1826.  Kirby & Sp., Entomol. Lett. (1828), IV. 542. Nipping the breast will kill many small Lepidoptera.

  b.  as a joint or other piece of meat.

1530.  Palsgr., 910. The gygot, a brest, le gigot.

1710.  Addison, Tatler, No. 255, ¶ 3. Antipathy … to a Cheshire Cheese, or a Breast of Mutton.

1832.  Fraser’s Mag., V. 529. They were charged with stealing a breast of mutton.

  5.  fig. and transf. The seat of the affections and emotions; the repository of consciousness, designs and secrets; the heart; hence, the affections, private thoughts and feelings. (Commonly pl. in OE.)

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen. (Gr.), 656. Mæʓ ðin mod wesan bliðe on breostum.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 183. Ihesu … Min bliþe breostes blisse.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 7. Þe þat herest him þat al welt in wið in þi breoste.

c. 1430.  Hymns Virg. (1867), 2. How y hadde ledde my lijf so zore, I pute it freischli in-to my brist.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, V. iv. 134. The fauorable fortoun … gan the breistis of the vther avance.

1600.  Chapman, Iliad, XV. 581. Their herdsmen wanting breasts To fight with lions.

1607.  Shaks., Cor., III. i. 258. What his Brest forges, that his Tongue must vent.

a. 1643.  W. Cartwright, in Dodsley (1780), X. 221. That man of peace there, Hath been trusted with Kings breasts.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IX. 730. Can envie dwell In heav’nly brests?

1717.  Steele, Spect., No. 30, ¶ 3. Our Statutes are … recorded in our own Breasts only.

1750.  Gray, Elegy, xv. Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breast The little tyrant of his fields withstood.

1839.  Thirlwall, Greece, II. 368. What motives were predominant in the breast of Pausanias.

  † b.  On breast: in or by heart. Obs.

a. 1560.  Rolland, Crt. Venus, I. 45. Maist part was my prayers to con Knowit on breist.

  c.  To make a clean breast: to make a full disclosure or confession.

1752.  Cameron, in Scots Mag. (1753), Oct., 508/1. He pressed him … to make a clean breast, and tell him all.

1861.  Sat. Rev., 23 Nov., 524. A clean breast must be made of everything.

1878.  Black, Green Past., xxiii. 184. I may as well make a clean breast of it.

  † 6.  transf. The place where the lungs are situated; hence, breath, voice in singing. Obs.

1547.  J. Heywood, Four P’s, in Dodsley (1780), I. 67. I have some syght in syngynge, But is your brest any thynge sweet?

a. 1553.  Udall, Royster D. (Arb.), 14. So loe, that is a breast to blowe out a candle.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. iii. 19. By my troth the foole has an excellent breast. I had rather then forty shillings I had … so sweet a breath to sing, as the foole has.

1621.  Fletcher, Pilgr., III. vi. (N.). Let’s hear him sing, he has a fine breast.

1711.  Strype, Parker, 9 (N.). Queristers, after their breasts are changed.

  † 7.  A broad even front of a moving company; hence In, of, on (a) breast = ABREAST. Obs.

1647.  May, Hist. Parl., III. i. 10. A narrow Lane, where onely foure of a breast could march.

1653.  Urquhart, Rabelais, I. liii. Six men at armies … might together in a breast ride all up to the very top.

1686.  R. P., in Phil. Trans., XX. 382. The Current of Water came down … with a Breast as if it would have drowned the whole Towns.

1725.  Lond. Gaz., No. 6382/3. The Register, in Breast, with the Secretary.

1788.  Lond. Mag., 200. To admit the passage of three carriages and two horses on a breast.

1807.  Robinson, Archæol. Græca, IV. xix. 405. The ships went three or more in a breast.

  8.  Applied to various surfaces or parts of things analogous in shape, position, etc., to the human breast; the forefront, face, swelling or supporting surface. † In military use, a breastwork; see BREAST v. 4.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 5930. In the brest of the batell þere buernes were thicke.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., I. iii. 51. The crosse blew Lightning seem’d to open The Brest of Heauen.

1793.  Smeaton, Edystone L., § 96. The seas broke against the overhanging Breast of the rock.

1806.  Act 46 Geo. III., cliii. No pier, quay, wharf, jetty, breast, or embankment, shall be erected.

1812.  J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, I. 27. The waves that lend their gentle breast In gladness for her couch of rest.

1814.  Wordsw., Excurs., IV. 627. Upon the breast of new-created earth Man walk’d.

1872.  Jenkinson, Guide Eng. Lakes (1879), 200. Along the tolerably smooth breast of the hill.

  9.  In various technical uses: † a. Anatomy. A portion of the hand (see quot.). b. Agriculture. The forward part of the mould-board of a plough. c. Arch. (see quot. 1823); also, the part of a wall between a window and the floor; an obs. name of the torus of a column (spelt Brest by Bailey and Johnson). d. Mining. (see quot. 1881); also, the wooden partition that divides the shaft of a coal-mine into two compartments. e. The curve in a fork just above the prongs. f. Mech. ‘A bush connected with a small shaft or spindle’; also, the swelling or bulging part of a nave or hub. g. Carpentry. The under surface of a handrail, rafter, or rib of a dome.

1541.  R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg. In the thyrde conjunction be foure bones longer than the other. And that coniunction is called the brest of the hande or pecten.

1727–51.  Chambers, Cycl., Brest or Breast, in architecture, a term used by some for that member of a column otherwise called the tore.

1770.  Monthly Rev., 307. Placed just under the breast of the chimney.

1807.  Vancouver, Agric. Devon (1813), 115. There is little apparent curve in its breast or mould-board.

1823.  P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 434. The solid parts of the walls, between the funnel or flues, and the rooms, are called the breasts of the chimnies.

1881.  Raymond, Mining Gloss., Breast. 1. The face of a working. 2. In coal mines, the chamber driven upwards from the gangway, on the seam, between pillars of coal left standing, for the extraction of coal. 3. That side of the hearth of a shaft-furnace which contains the metal-notch.

1884.  Implement & Mach. Rev., 1 Dec., 6701/2. The … plough … has, together with the ordinary mould board, a digging breast.

  II.  Combinations.

  10.  Comb. (attrib.) of obvious meaning; as breast-bow, -button, -cord, -girdle, -guard, -key, -milk, -piece, -pin, -pocket; breast-deep, breast-rending adj.

1847.  Life Mrs. Sherwood, vi. 87. She always wore … a *breast bow to answer the bow on her cap.

1862.  Thackeray, Philip, II. 256. A certain *breast-button of his old coat.

1879.  E. Arnold, Lt. Asia, IV. (1881), 105. Took down the silver bit and bridle chains, *Breast-cord, and curb.

1588.  Shaks., Tit. A., V. iii. 179. Set him *brest deepe in earth, and famish him.

1388.  Wyclif, Jer. ii. 32. Whethir … a spousesse schal forȝete hir *brest girdil?

1578.  Richmond. Wills (1853), 281. A budged, j male pinyen, and a *brestgard, ijs.

1840.  Penny Cycl., XVII. 241/1. Parapet … is termed in German Brustwehr, or breast-guard.

1803.  Bristed, Pedest. Tour, II. 122. Spilling an abundance of water upon her *breastkerchief, and wetting her bosom.

1813.  Sir R. Wilson, Priv. Diary, II. 202. A person conversant in all matters … and who possesses the *breast-key of the magnates.

1650.  Jer. Taylor, Holy Living (1727), 124. Fed with a little *breast-milk.

1785.  M. Garthshore in Med. Commun., II. 37. It was supported by breast milk.

1611.  Cotgr., Brichet, the brisket or *breast-peece.

1825.  Scott, in Lockhart (1839), VIII. 120. I hate fine waistcoats and *breast pins upon dirty shirts.

1772.  Nugent, Hist. Friar Gerund, I. 172. In the *breast-pocket of his large cloak.

1625.  K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, IV. x. *Brest-rending care.

  11.  Special combs.: breast-backstays (Naut.), long ropes serving to aid in supporting the masts against an oblique headwind (cf. BACKSTAY); breast-band, a girdle or band passing round the breast; also spec. = breast-rope; † breast-brooch = BREASTPLATE 2; † breast-bundel, a breast-girdle; breast-casket = breast-gasket; breast-chain, a chain used for the same purpose as a breast-strap; † breast-clout, a bib; breast-collar, a broad pulling strap passing round the breast of a horse, used instead of a neck-collar; breast-cut, the cut of meat from the breast, brisket; breast-drill, a drill against which the workman bears his breast while drilling; breast-fast, ‘a large rope or chain, used to confine a ship’s broadside to a wharf or quay, or to some other ship’ (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk.); † breast-flap (see quot.); breast-gasket (Naut.), a rope, cord, or other piece of plaited stuff used to tie up the bunt of a sail, and secure it to the yard; breast-glass (see quot.); breast-harness, harness in which a breast-band is used in place of a collar; breast-height, the interior slope of a parapet in fortifications; breast-hoe, a hoe pushed by the breast; breast-hooks, ‘large pieces of compass-timber fixed within and athwart the bows of the ship, of which they are the principal security, and through which they are well bolted’ (Weale); breast-knees sb. pl., timbers placed in the forward part of a vessel across the stem to unite the bows on each side; breast-knot, a knot or bow of ribbon, etc., worn on the breast; † breast-lap = breast-flap, BREASTPLATE 2; † breast-lin (Ormin), lit. breast-linen, linen breastplate; breast-line, the rope along which are ranged the pontoons of a military bridge, and to which they are fastened; breast-mill, a mill driven by a breast water-wheel; breast-moulding, molding done upon the panel beneath a window; breast-pain, a disease in horses; breast-pang, the Angina pectoris; breast-peat (see quot.); † breast-pit, the hollow of the breast; † breast-probe, a probe for examining the cavity of the breast; breast-pump, an instrument for drawing milk from the breast by suction; breast-rail (Naut.), the upper rail of the balcony, or of the breastwork at the forepart of the quarter-deck; breast-roll, the cloth beam of a loom; breast-rope (Naut.), a rope for securing the yard-parrels; a rope for supporting the leadsman while sounding; breast-strap (Harness), a strap fixed at one end to the collar and supporting the pole of the vehicle; breast-wall, a wall supporting a bank of earth, etc., a retaining wall; breast-weed, a herbaceous plant (Saururus cernuus) having broad heart-shaped leaves and small white flowers, the Lizard’s tail; breast-wimble, a kind of gimlet or auger upon which the breast presses in working; breast-wood, collective name for young shoots of fruit trees trained on espaliers or against walls. Cf. also BREAST-HIGH -PLATE, -WORK, etc.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), E ij. *Breast-back-stays and after-back-stays; the intent of the former being to sustain the top-mast when the force of the wind acts upon the ship sidewise.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxv. 82. Setting up the weather breast-backstays.

1837.  W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville (1849), 135. *Breast-bands, saddle and crupper, are lavishly embroidered.

1382.  Wyclif, Ex. xxviii. 15. The *breest broche [1611 breastplate] forsothe of dom thou shalt make with werk of dyuerse colours. Ibid., Jer. ii. 32. Whether forȝete shal … the womman spouse of hir *brest-bundle [1388 -girdil].

c. 1325.  Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Wright’s Voc., 143. Une bavere, a brestclut.

1801.  W. Felton, Carriages, II. 156. Neck Collars, and Saddles instead of *breast Collars and housings.

1825.  S. & Sarah Adams, Compl. Servant, 76. The Joints of Beef, according to the London method of cutting…. 14 Brisket or *Breast-cut.

1865.  Tylor, Early Hist. Man., ix. 243. Known among the Oriental nations as the *breast-drill.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., vii. 30. A *Breast-fast is a rope … fastened to some part of the Ship forward on, to hold her head to a wharfe.

a. 1536.  Tindale, Table Words Ex., I. 419. Breastlap, or *breastflap, is such a flap as thou seest in the breast of a cope.

1880.  Syd. Soc. Lex., *Breast glass, a flattened glass vessel, with an opening large enough to receive the nipple, placed on the breast to catch … milk.

1787.  Winter, Syst. Husb., 174. The intervals should be hoed with a running or *breast hoe of twelve inches broad.

1748.  Anson, Voy., II. iv. (ed. 4), 221. One *breast-hook was broken.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, ii. 4. Her stern and breast-hooks dripping.

c. 1860.  H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 68. What are the breast hooks for? To unite the sides of the ship together forward; they are generally made of iron.

1716.  Addison, Freeholder, No. 11 (1725), 69. The influence of this Beautiful *Breast-Knot.

1824.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 119. A black lace tippet … parting at the middle, to display a gay *breast-knot.

1535.  Coverdale, Ecclus. xlv. 10. In the *brestlappe there was a goodly worke, wherin was fastened light and perfectnesse.

1581.  Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 75. Those Vrim and Thumim, which the Priest bare in his breast lappe.

1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 334. The brest-lap of iudgement.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 955. Off þatt preostess shulldrelin, & off hiss *breostlin baþe … Summwhatt icc habbe showedd ȝuw.

1674.  Petty, Disc. R. Soc., 99. Seen in all *Breast- and Undershot-Mills.

1821.  R. Turner, Abridgm. Arts & Sc., 266. Water-mills are of three kinds: undershot mills, breast mills, and overshot mills.

1844.  T. Graham, Dom. Med., 324. Excepting in the case of *breast-pang, very active exercises daily.

1802.  Agric. Surv. Peebles, 208 (Jam.). [He] digs the peat, by driving in the spade horizontally with his arms; this peat is designed *breast-peat.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xxi. Sode in vinegre and leyde with a sponge to þe *breste pit.

1758.  J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 200. The Admission of the *Breast-Probe.

1831.  G. Porter, Silk Manuf., 215. The cloth-beam or *breast-roll to which the ends of the warp are attached.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., v. 20. Parrels … with the helpe of the *Brest-rope doth keepe the Yard close to the Mast.

1825.  H. Gascoigne, Nav. Fame, 52. Forward he leans, and far the balance leaves, The *Breastrope trusting while the lead he heaves.

c. 1860.  H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 42. See the breast ropes properly secured.

1601.  Holland, Pliny, XVII. xv. The French Vibrequin or *brest-wimble, which gently and quickely boreth a hole, and hurteth not the wood.

1882.  Garden, 354/2. To allow a free and unrestricted growth of *breastwood unto the middle of July.