# britches

/ˈbɹɪtʃəz/ (US) · /bɹˈɪtʃɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/britches
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. trousers

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Dialect · American English

an informal or old-fashioned word for trousers or pants.

For teachers: a dialectal or informal variant of 'breeches', referring to trousers that typically reach just below the knee.

- The old farmer pulled up his britches and headed out to the field.
- He arrived at the festival dressed in traditional woollen britches, looking as though he had stepped out of a nineteenth-century portrait.

Usage: Always used in the plural form.

### 2. fish eggs

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · British English

the eggs of a cod fish, often cooked and eaten.

For teachers: the roe of a cod, typically prepared by frying or boiling.

- The chef served fried britches with a side of lemon and herbs.
- While less common in modern urban cuisine, fried cod britches remain a traditional delicacy in certain coastal fishing communities.

Usage: Usually plural in a culinary context.

## Examples

- He wore leather britches and a wool coat.
- The old farmer pulled up his britches and climbed onto the tractor.
- Having grown too big for his britches after the promotion, he began dismissing advice from colleagues who had mentored him for years.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.