breeches buoy

English

A man in a breeches buoy

Noun

breeches buoy (plural breeches buoys)

1. (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.