breechen

— In order to prevent any accidents which might happen, by the iron pin of the carriage giving way, from so sudden a shock, a breechen is made fast, from the sliding carriage, to the head of the boat, and properly secured: the gun being fired, the elasticity of the breechen permits her to recoil about two inches, which certainly is a much less strain to the boat, and a safer method of using the gun; for, allowing the breechen to break, there is then the same principle of the iron pin to be depended upon, as at present.

— 1884, Saddlers, Harness Makers, and Carriage Builders' Gazette, London: John Kemp, 1 November, 1884, Vol. XIV, pp. 155-6, https://books.google.ca/books?id=YQ9LAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Remember, when a horse is on its side the kicking-strap is useless, and the breechen nearly so, to prevent the swing of its hind legs; your aim is to get it away from the steps or wheel-plate of the trap, which, in its struggles, may cut its legs fearfully.