The Breechcloth

   How much can you really explain a breechcloth?  It derives from the term breechcloat, a Middle German word meaning, roughly, loin cloth.  Cavemen wore them, barbarians wore them, and, most famously, Tarzan wore them.  In the picture at left, you'll see Johnny Weissmuller sporting his breechcloth in Tarzan Triumphs (which looks like it should have been named Tarzan Triumphs over Small, Defenseless Boy).  If the idea of Tarzan on this page bothers you, just pretend it's Galyden strangling Freth over whether the Chain Mail Bra makes The Forge or not (Galyden doesn't really wear a breechcloth, but would if someone asked nicely).

   Now, there was a breech of mail which covered the thighs and hips (the terms breeches, and now britches derive from breech).  Knights often wore a breech of mail under their armor to protect the areas around their hips and groin where the armor plates came together.  At any rate, breechCloth and breech of mail are entirely different things.  Plus, we couldn't find a good picture of Johnny Weissmuller in armor.