breasting

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Breast \Breast\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Breasted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Breasting}.]
   To meet, with the breast; to struggle with or oppose
   manfully; as, to breast the storm or waves.
   [1913 Webster]

         The court breasted the popular current by sustaining
         the demurrer.                            --Wirt.
   [1913 Webster]

   {To breast up a hedge}, to cut the face of it on one side so
      as to lay bare the principal upright stems of the plants.
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Breasting \Breast"ing\, n. (Mach.)
   The curved channel in which a breast wheel turns. It is
   closely adapted to the curve of the wheel through about a
   quarter of its circumference, and prevents the escape of the
   water until it has spent its force upon the wheel. See
   {Breast wheel}.
   [1913 Webster]