breeches buoy
Appearance
English
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Breeches_buoy_%28PSF%29.jpg/220px-Breeches_buoy_%28PSF%29.jpg)
Noun
[edit]breeches buoy (plural breeches buoys)
- (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
[edit]Also colloquially called britches buoy or britches boy.