breeches buoy

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English

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A man in a breeches buoy

Noun

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breeches buoy (plural breeches buoys)

  1. (nautical) A ring lifebuoy, fitted with canvas breeches, rigged between ship and shore, for rescuing seamen when a ship is in danger of breaking up; also used for transferring people from ship to ship at sea.

Usage notes

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Also colloquially called britches buoy or britches boy.