1. Being at the
back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the
back door;
back settlements.
2. Being in arrear; overdue; as,
back rent.
3. Moving or operating backward; as,
back action. Back charges, charges brought
forward after an account has been made up. Back filling, the
retrograde movement of a
man or
body of men,
without changing front. Back stream, a
current running against the
main current of a stream; an eddy. To
take the
back track, to retrace one's steps; to retreat.
1. In
human beings, the
hinder part of the body, extending from the
neck to the
end of the spine; in another animals, that
part of the
body which corresponds most almost to such
part of a
human being; as, the
back of a horse, fish, or lobster.
2. An extended
upper part, as of a
mountain or ridge. "[The mountains] their broad
bare backs upheave Into the clouds." (Milton)
3. The outward or
upper part of a thing, as opposed to the
inner or lower part; as, the
back of the arm, the
back of the foot, the
back of a
arm rail. "Methought Love pitying me, when he
saw this, Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss." (Donne)
4. The
part opposed to the front; the
hinder or
rear part of a thing; as, the
back of a book; the
back of an army; the
back of a chimney.
5. The
part opposite to, or most
remote from, that which fronts the speaker or artist; or the
part out of sight, or not usually seen; as, the
back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
6. The
part of a
cutting tool on the
opposite side from its edge; as, the
back of a knife, or of a saw.
7. A support or
resource in reserve. "This project Must have a
back or second, that
might keep, if
this must
blast in proof." (Shak)
8. The
keel and keelson of a ship.
9.
The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. "A bak to walken inne by daylight." (Chaucer) Behind one's back, when one is absent; without one's knowledge; as, to ridicule a face behind his back. Full back, Half back, Quarter back, players stationed behind those in the front line. To be or lie on one's back, to be helpless. To put, or get, one's back up, to taking an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked). To see the back of, to get rid of. To turn the back, to go away; to flee. To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.
Origin: As baec, bac; akin to Icel, Sw, & LG. Bak, Dan. Bag; cf. OHG. Bahho ham, Skr. Bhaj to turn, OSlav. Bg flight. Cf. Bacon.
Source: Websters Vocabulary