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ng or infraction of a law, or of any obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of contract; a breach of promise.

Apt to break fences or to break out of pasture; unruly; as, breachy cattle.

The breaking of a public pound for releasing impounded animals. Blackstone.

A breaking or overflow of a bank or a dike by the sea. L'Estrange.

Adultery. [Obs.]

n transitions from one subject to another; unconnected. The abrupt style, which hath many breaches. B. Jonson.

An action to recover damages for a breach or nonperformance of a contract or promise, express or implied, oral or in writing not under seal. Common or indebitatus assumpsit is brought for the most part on an implied promise. Special assumpsit is founded on an express promise or undertaking. Wharton.…

A fraudulent breach of duty or willful act of known illegality on the part of a master of a ship, in his character of master, or of the mariners, to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo, and without his consent. It includes every breach of trust committed with dishonest purpose, as by running away with the ship…

An opening caused by the parting of any solid body; a crack or breach; a flaw. Stain or brack in her sweet reputation. J. Fletcher.

A breach; ruin; downfall; peril. [Obs.] Chaucer.

offense of violating the pledge given by every inhabitant of a tithing to keep the peace; breach of the peace. Burrill.

A rupture of hernia; a breach.

d on the Solemn league and Covenant, and in 1680 declared Charles II deposed for tyranny, breach of faith, etc. Cameron was killed at the battle of Airdmoss, but his followers became a denomination (afterwards called Reformed Presbyterians) who refused to recognize laws or institutions which they believed contrary to t…

A division; a breach, as in a party. [Obs.] Many clefts and chaps in our council board. T. Fuller.

A deep opening made by disruption, as a breach in the earth or a rock; a yawning abyss; a cleft; a fissure. That deep, romantic chasm which slanted down the green hill. Coleridge.

th iron-pointed spikes or spears, five or six feet long, used to defend a passage, stop a breach, or impede the advance of cavalry, etc. Obstructions of chain, boom, and cheval-de-frise. W. Irving.

The pellicle which forms over a wound or breach of continuity and completes the process of healing in the latter, and which subsequently contracts and becomes white, forming the scar.

lth, a certificate from the proper authrity that a ship is free from infection. -- Clean breach. See under Breach, n., 4. -- To make a clean breast. See under Breast.

poral whispered in my ear, Five pounds, if rightly tipped, would set me clear. Gay. Clear breach. See under Breach, n., 4. -- Clear days (Law.), days reckoned from one day to another, excluding both the first and last day; as, from Sunday to Sunday there are six clear days. -- Clear stuff, boards, planks, etc., free…

y a proportional assesment; as, to club the expense. To club a musket (Mil.), to turn the breach uppermost, so as to use it as a club.