Breast

(brĕst), n. [A-S. breost, O. Sax. & Icel. briost, Sw. bröst, Dan. bryst, Goth. brusts, Ger. brust, D. borst. The root is O. H. Ger. & O. Sax. brestan, A-S. berstan, Ger. bersten, Eng. burst, so that the word properly signifies a thing bursting or swelling beyond the adjacent surface. Cf. O. H. Ger. prust, M. H. Ger. brust and breste, a tearing, M. H. Ger. wolkenbrust, N. H. Ger. wolkenbruch, burst of a cloud.]

1. The fore part of the body, between the neck and the belly. “Whose heads stood in their breasts.” Shak.
2. The protuberant glands, situated on the front of the chest or thorax in the female of man and of some other mammalia, in which milk is secreted for the nourishment of the young.
3. The seat of consciousness; the repository of thought and self-consciousness, or of secrets; the seat of the affections and passions; the heart. “He has a loyal breast.” Shak. “Hope in the breasts of all patriots.” Macaulay.
4. The power of singing; a musical voice;—so called, probably, from the connection of the voice with the lungs, which lie within the breast. [Obs.]

By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast. Shak. 5. (Mining.) The face of coal workings. Weale. To make a clean breast, to disclose the secrets which weigh upon one; to make full confession.