breeches buoy

== English == === Noun === 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 ==== Also colloquially called britches buoy or britches boy.