bread tree (bredtre)

Same as breadfruit tree, (a) (which see, under breadfruit ). bread-weight, n. Same as troy weight. breadwinner (bred'win"ėr), п. 1. One who earns a livelihood for himself and those dependent upon him: usually restricted to one who is directly dependent upon his earnings from day to day or from week to week. The breadwinner being gone, his goods were seized for an old debt, and his wife was driven into the streets to beg. Lecky , Eng. in 18th Cent., xiii. 2. That by means of which one earns one's bread. [Rare.] The book-making specialist of our generation probably yields to none of his predece ors in the literary roll in respect of industry, skill, and accuracy; but his subject, as a rule, is his busine , his breadwinner . Quarterly Rev., CLXII. 515.