in Anatomy, the fore-part of the thorax. Smitting the breast is an expression of penitence. In the Breast-Hooks, in Ship-Building, are thick pieces of timber incartured into the form of knees, and used to strengthen the fore-part of the ship, where they are placed at different heights directly across the stem, so as to unite it with the bows on each side.

Breast-Plate, a piece of armour for the breast, originally formed of hides, horn, linen, or hemp twisted into small cords; but afterwards made of brass, iron, silver, or other metals, which were sometimes hardened so as to be bullet-proof.

Breast-Plate, in Jewish Antiquity, a part of the vestment of the high priest. It was ten inches square, and consisted of a doubled piece of the same rich stuff of which the ephod was made; and it was set with twelve precious stones, on which were engraven the names of the twelve tribes. They were divided from one another by little golden squares or partitions, in which they were set. The names of these stones, and those of the tribes engraven on them, as also of their disposition on the breast-plate, were as follows:

| Sardius | Emerald | Ligure | Beryl | |---------|---------|--------|-------| | Reuben | Judah | Gad | Zebulon |

| Topaz | Sapphire | Agate | Onyx | |--------|----------|------|------| | Simon | Dan | Asher| Joseph |

| Carnelian | Diamond | Amethyst | Jasper | |-----------|---------|-----------|--------| | Levi | Naphthali | Issachar | Benjamin |

The breast-plate was fastened at the four corners; above, to each shoulder by a golden book or ring at the end of a wreathed chain; and below, to the girdle of the phod, by two strings or ribbons, which had likewise two rings and hooks. This ornament was never to be severed from the priestly garment; and it was called the Memorial, to remind the high priest how dear those tribes ought to be to him, whose names he wore on his breast. It is also called the Breast-plate of Judgment, because it had the divine oracle of Urim and Thummim annexed to it.

Breast-Plough, a kind of spade with a cross-piece at the extremity of the handle, which the operator holds against his breast. It is used for cutting thin slices of turf, chiefly for the purpose of thatching.

Breast-Wheel. See Hydrodynamics.

Breccia, a rock composed of angular fragments of various pre-existing rocks or fossils imbedded in some matrix—as marble breccia, ossiferous breccia.