Backbond (n.) An instrument which, in conjunction with another making an absolute disposition, constitutes a trust.
Backbone (n.) The column of bones in the back which sustains and gives firmness to the frame; the spine; the vertebral or spinal column.
Backbone (n.) Anything like , or serving the purpose of, a backbone.
Backbone (n.) Firmness; moral principle; steadfastness.
Backboned (a.) Vertebrate.
Backcast (n.) Anything which brings misfortune upon one, or causes failure in an effort or enterprise; a reverse.
Back door () A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way.
Backdoor (a.) Acting from behind and in concealment; as, backdoor intrigues.
Backdown (n.) A receding or giving up; a complete surrender.
Backed (a.) Having a back; fitted with a back; as, a backed electrotype or stereotype plate. Used in composition; as, broad-backed; hump-backed.
Backer (n.) One who, or that which, backs; especially one who backs a person or thing in a contest.
Backfall (n.) A fall or throw on the back in wrestling.
Backfriend (n.) A secret enemy.
Backgammon (n.) A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a "board" marked off into twenty-four spaces called "points". Each player has fifteen pieces, or "men", the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables.
Backgammon (v. i.) In the game of backgammon, to beat by ending the game before the loser is clear of his first "table".
Background (n.) Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.
Background (n.) The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or group of figures.
Background (n.) Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a background of red hangings.
Background (n.) A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight.
Backhand (n.) A kind of handwriting in which the downward slope of the letters is from left to right.
Backhand (a.) Sloping from left to right; -- said of handwriting.
Backhand (a.) Backhanded; indirect; oblique.
Backhanded (a.) With the hand turned backward; as, a backhanded blow.
Backhanded (a.) Indirect; awkward; insincere; sarcastic; as, a backhanded compliment.
Backhanded (a.) Turned back, or inclining to the left; as, a backhanded letters.
Backhandedness (n.) State of being backhanded; the using of backhanded or indirect methods.
Backhander (n.) A backhanded blow.
Backhouse (n.) A building behind the main building. Specifically: A privy; a necessary.
Backing (n.) The act of moving backward, or of putting or moving anything backward.
Backing (n.) That which is behind, and forms the back of, anything, usually giving strength or stability.
Backing (n.) Support or aid given to a person or cause.
Backing (n.) The preparation of the back of a book with glue, etc., before putting on the cover.
Backjoint (n.) A rebate or chase in masonry left to receive a permanent slab or other filling.
Backlash (n.) The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.
Backless (a.) Without a back.
Backlog (n.) A large stick of wood, forming the back of a fire on the hearth.
Backpiece (n.) Alt. of Backplate
Backplate (n.) A piece, or plate which forms the back of anything, or which covers the back; armor for the back.
Backrack (n.) Alt. of Backrag
Backrag (n.) See Bacharach.
Backs (n. pl.) Among leather dealers, the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
Backsaw (n.) A saw (as a tenon saw) whose blade is stiffened by an added metallic back.
Backset (n.) A check; a relapse; a discouragement; a setback.
Backset (n.) Whatever is thrown back in its course, as water.
Backset (v. i.) To plow again, in the fall; -- said of prairie land broken up in the spring.
Backsettler (n.) One living in the back or outlying districts of a community.
Backsheesh (n.) Alt. of Backshish
Backshish (n.) In Egypt and the Turkish empire, a gratuity; a "tip".
Backside (n.) The hinder part, posteriors, or rump of a person or animal.
Backsight (n.) The reading of the leveling staff in its unchanged position when the leveling instrument has been taken to a new position; a sight directed backwards to a station previously occupied. Cf. Foresight, n., 3.
Backslid (imp.) of Backslide
Backslidden (p. p.) of Backslide
Backslid () of Backslide
Backsliding (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Backslide
Backslide (v. i.) To slide back; to fall away; esp. to abandon gradually the faith and practice of a religion that has been professed.
Backslider (n.) One who backslides.
Backsliding (a.) Slipping back; falling back into sin or error; sinning.
Backsliding (n.) The act of one who backslides; abandonment of faith or duty.
Backstaff (n.) An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; -- so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.
Back stairs () Stairs in the back part of a house, as distinguished from the front stairs; hence, a private or indirect way.
Backstairs (a.) Alt. of Backstair
Backstair (a.) Private; indirect; secret; intriguing; -- as if finding access by the back stairs.
Backstay (n.) A rope or stay extending from the masthead to the side of a ship, slanting a little aft, to assist the shrouds in supporting the mast.
Backstay (n.) A rope or strap used to prevent excessive forward motion.
Backster (n.) A backer.
Backstitch (n.) A stitch made by setting the needle back of the end of the last stitch, and bringing it out in front of the end.
Backstitch (v. i.) To sew with backstitches; as, to backstitch a seam.
Backstress (n.) A female baker.
Backsword (n.) A sword with one sharp edge.
Backsword (n.) In England, a stick with a basket handle, used in rustic amusements; also, the game in which the stick is used. Also called singlestick.
Backward (adv.) Alt. of Backwards
Backwards (adv.) With the back in advance or foremost; as, to ride backward.
Backwards (adv.) Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward.
Backwards (adv.) On the back, or with the back downward.
Backwards (adv.) Toward, or in, past time or events; ago.
Backwards (adv.) By way of reflection; reflexively.
Backwards (adv.) From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from religion to sin.
Backwards (adv.) In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily; as, to read backwards.
Backward (a.) Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.
Backward (a.) Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath.
Backward (a.) Not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull; inapt; as, a backward child.
Backward (a.) Late or behindhand; as, a backward season.
Backward (a.) Not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or region is in a backward state.
Backward (a.) Already past or gone; bygone.
Backward (n.) The state behind or past.
Backward (v. i.) To keep back; to hinder.
Backwardation (n.) The seller's postponement of delivery of stock or shares, with the consent of the buyer, upon payment of a premium to the latter; -- also, the premium so paid. See Contango.
Backwardly (adv.) Reluctantly; slowly; aversely.
Backwardly (adv.) Perversely; ill.
Backwardness (n.) The state of being backward.
Backwash (v. i.) To clean the oil from (wood) after combing.
Backwater (n.) Water turned back in its course by an obstruction, an opposing current , or the flow of the tide, as in a sewer or river channel, or across a river bar.
Backwater (n.) An accumulation of water overflowing the low lands, caused by an obstruction.
Backwater (n.) Water thrown back by the turning of a waterwheel, or by the paddle wheels of a steamer.
Backwoods (n. pl.) The forests or partly cleared grounds on the frontiers.
Backwoodsmen (pl. ) of Backwoodsman
Backwoodsman (n.) A man living in the forest in or beyond the new settlements, especially on the western frontiers of the older portions of the United States.
Backworm (n.) A disease of hawks. See Filanders.
Bacon (n.) The back and sides of a pig salted and smoked; formerly, the flesh of a pig salted or fresh.
Baconian (a.) Of or pertaining to Lord Bacon, or to his system of philosophy.