beleaguered braid breech merchandise plait

beleaguered

be·lea·guered /bɪˈliːɡəd $ -ərd/

adjective [usually before noun] formal

1. experiencing a lot of problem or criticism
   1. the country's beleaguered steel industry
2. surrounded by an army
   1. Supplies are being brought into the beleaguered city.

braid

braid2 verb [transitive]

to weave or twist together three pieces of hair of cloth to form one length

breech

breech /briːtʃ/ noun [countable]

the part of a gun into which you put the bullets

merchandise

mer·chan·dise1 /ˈmɜːtʃəndaɪz, -daɪs $ ˈmɜːr-/ noun [uncountable] formal

goods that are being sold

• A range of official Disney merchandise was on sale.
• They inspect the merchandise carefully.

plait

plait1 /plæt $ pleɪt, plæt/ verb [transitive]

British English to twist three long pieces of hair or rope over and under each other to make one long piece

• She plaited her hair hurriedly
• a plaited leather belt

Reference

• Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English