Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US black) a ne’er-do-well, an untrustworthy, disreputable man [breath that smells of liquor and britches that are constantly being dropped at another woman’s bedside].

1928		Ruby Gowdy [song title] Breath and Britches Blues.
1937		Z.N. Hurston Their Eyes Were Watching God (1998) 13: Ah don’t want no trashy nigger, no breath-and-britches, lak Johnny Taylor usin’ yo body to wipe his foots on.
2002		Christian Women for Jesus Ministries 🌐 Let’s face it — it’s tempting to men to have so much female attention. I’ve heard pastors say that most women will settle for breath and britches.

2. a very thin person.

2002

Sen. Zell Miller statement in US Senate 9 Apr. 🌐 One day, an old timer, so thin he’s mostly just breath and britches, followed me out into the parking lot.