Brĕt'ti-ce, n.

noun

n.; pl. BRĒT'TI-CES. [O. Eng. bretisa, bretage, parapet, from A-S. bred, Ger. bret, plank, board. Cf. L. Lat. breteschia, briteschia, britaschia, bretachia, wooden fort, O. Fr. bretesche, Pr. bertresca, It. bertesca, baltresca. See BOARD.] One of the wooden planks used in supporting the roofs of coal mines.