breeches

thumb|200px|right| Breeches are still worn as livery for special occasions in several European courts. Here, a coachman in the Netherlands wears them during , 2013. thumb|200px|right|Breeches as worn in the United States in the late 18th century: Elijah Boardman by [[Ralph Earl, 1789]] Breeches or britches ( ) are an article of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles. Formerly a standard item of Western men's clothing, they had fallen out of use by the mid-19th century in favour of trousers.

Breeches became popular in the 16th century and continued to evolve in style and construction over the following centuries. By the early 19th century, however, they had largely disappeared from everyday men's fashion, giving way to longer trousers. Although breeches went out of general use, they continued to be worn for specialized purposes such as horseback riding, ceremonial uniforms and within historical and fashion communities.