britches

In Appalachian and Southern speech, "britches" is the common word for pants or trousers. It comes from "breeches," an older English term for leg coverings.

#Appalachia #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

People still refer to pants as 'britches' around here. Some old timers, some just out in the country. If I say it, somebody is usually too big for 'em.

Pronunciation

[BRITCH-iz]

Meaning & Usage

- Pants, trousers (noun)

Mae:

Go change them muddy britches ‘fore supper.

Earl:

I’ll hang ‘em on the line to dry.

other spellings: breeches, pants, trousers, slacks, overalls, and drawers (context-dependent)

★ "Britches" almost always means pants, but it shows up in sayings too - like "too big for your britches." ★

Origin

From Old English brec ("breeches"), meaning clothing that covered both legs. Over time, "breeches" shifted in Appalachian and Southern dialects to the clipped form "britches," which became the everyday word for pants.

Notes

Still widely used in Appalachia and the South. While "pants" is common elsewhere, "britches" carries a down-home, old-time feel that’s still alive in daily talk.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it plain: "britches." Rhymes with "ditches."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is "britches" the same as "breeches"?

Yes - "britches" is the dialect form of "breeches," both meaning pants.

Do people still say "britches" today?

Absolutely. It’s common in the South and Appalachia, and in phrases like "too big for your britches."

Is it formal or informal?

Informal - "britches" is folksy, while "pants" or "trousers" are standard.