Etymology From Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”). The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback. Compare Middle Low German bak (“back”), from Old Saxon bak, and West Frisian bekling (“chair back”), Old High German bah, Swedish and Norwegian bak. Cognate with German Bache (“sow [adult female hog]”).
Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XIX, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
2
Usually Returned or restored to a previous place or condition.
He was on vacation, but now he’s back.
The office fell into chaos when you left, but now order is back.
3
Usually Not current.
I’d like to find a back issue of that magazine.
4
Usually Situated away from the main or most frequented areas.
They took a back road.
He lives out in the back country.
1 more example
It's OK that the highway is jammed, because I know a back way. It's another good way to get there.
5
Usually In arrears; overdue.
They still owe three months’ back rent.
Several of the former Hotel York workers have filed with the California Labor Division to collect what they feel is owed them in the way of back overtime.1980 December 20, David Lamble, “Workers, Owners Battle It Out At SF Gay Hotel”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 22, page 9:
6
Usually Moving or operating backward.
back action
7
Human sciences, Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, SciencesUsually Pronounced with the highest part of the body of the tongue toward the back of the mouth, near the soft palate (most often describing a vowel).
The vowel of lot has a back vowel in most dialects of England.
Etymology From Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”). The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback. Compare Middle Low German bak (“back”), from Old Saxon bak, and West Frisian bekling (“chair back”), Old High German bah, Swedish and Norwegian bak. Cognate with German Bache (“sow [adult female hog]”).
I left my mobile phone back at the hotel. I’ll have to go back and get it.
2 more examples
We drove back to the office with some concern on my part at the prospect of so large a case. Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much. Those entering it are greeted by wire fences, walls dating back to colonial times and security posts. For mariners leaving the port after lonely nights on the high seas, the delights of the B52 Night Club and Stallion Pub lie a stumble away.2013 June 8, “The new masters and commanders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8839, page 52:
2
In a direction opposite to that in which someone or something is facing or normally pointing.
Someone pushed me in the chest and I fell back.
The grandfather clock toppled back and crashed to the ground.
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Her arm was bent back at an odd angle.
3
In a direction opposite to the usual or desired direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively.
Wind the film back a few frames.
Don’t forget to put the clocks back by one hour tonight!
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This mishap has set the project back considerably.
4
Towards, into or in the past.
These records go back years.
He built a time machine and travelled back to 1800.
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Think back to how you felt last year.
Everything was simpler back in the old days.
5
Away from someone or something; at a distance.
Keep back! It could explode at any moment!
6
Away from the front or from an edge.
Sit all the way back in your chair.
Step back from the curb.
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Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path[…]. It twisted and turned,[…]and opened out into a big clear space like a lawn. And, back of the lawn, was a big, old-fashioned house, with piazzas stretching in front of it, and all blazing with lights. 'Twas the house I'd seen the roof of from the beach.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
7
So as to shrink, recede or move aside, or cause to do so.
This tree is dying back.
Clear back all this vegetation.
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Draw back the curtains and let in some light.
8
In a manner that impedes.
Fear held him back.
9
In a reciprocal manner; in return.
If you hurt me, I’ll hurt you back.
The light bounces back off the mirror.
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I was at Park Safari Africa in Canada on the Canadian border. This was years ago outside of Plattsburgh, New York. And I had a new car at the time, and I was driving through, going through the monkey area. And they said 'beware of the monkeys.' So about ten of them circled my car. And this one special one, like he was the leader of the pack, jumped up on the hood and came right up to the windshield and looked in. So I was like making faces at him. [garbled] 'don't do that!' And believe it or not, he made like a face back. He jumped off the car. He took his fingernails and he peeled all the chrome on both sides of my car off. Picked it up, jumped on the hood, dropped it and left- looked at me and left.2006 May 9, Penn Jillette, Michael Goudeau, quoting Pat, 34:52 from the start, in Penn Radio:
Our road was chiefly through woods, and part of it lay through the Hurricane-track, that is where a strong wind, some years back, opened a passage through the woods for a mile in breadth...1822, John Woods, Two Years' Residence in the Settlement on the English Prairie, in the Illinois Country, United States, page 138:
11
To a later point in time. See also put back.
The meeting has been moved back an hour. It was at 3 o’clock; now it's at 4 o’clock.
Etymology From Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”). The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback. Compare Middle Low German bak (“back”), from Old Saxon bak, and West Frisian bekling (“chair back”), Old High German bah, Swedish and Norwegian bak. Cognate with German Bache (“sow [adult female hog]”).
The rear of the body, especially the part between the neck and the end of the spine and opposite the chest and belly.
Could you please scratch my back?
It was not far from the house; but the ground sank into a depression there, and the ridge of it behind shut out everything except just the roof of the tallest hayrick. As one sat on the sward behind the elm, with the back turned on the rick and nothing in front but the tall elms and the oaks in the other hedge, it was quite easy to fancy it the verge of the prairie with the backwoods close by.1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
Take the average black man and ask him that. She gotta pack much back.1992, “Baby Got Back”, Sir Mix-A-Lot (lyrics):
He got his hand on her behind and caressed her firm, ample flesh.[…]“You got some back on you, girl.”2002, George Pelecanos, Right as Rain: A Novel, →ISBN, page 123:
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Back so big, look like your jeans shrunk in the wash / And we don't really need Netflix, I'mma give you something to watch2016 February 14, Joseph Adenuga, Darren Dixon, Tariq Devega, “Ladies Hit Squad” (track 6), in Konnichiwa, performed by Skepta ft. D Double E and ASAP Nast, Boy Better Know:
4
Figuratively The part of a piece of clothing which covers the back.
I still need to finish the back of your dress.
5
The backrest, the part of a piece of furniture which receives the human back.
Can you fix the back of this chair?
6
Obsolete That part of the body that bears clothing. (Now used only in the phrase clothes on one's back.)
Do thou but think / What ’tis to cram a maw or clothe a back / From such a filthy vice1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure:
7
That which is farthest away from the front.
He sat in the back of the room.
8
The side of any object which is opposite the front or useful side.
Turn the book over and look at the back.
› That which is farthest away from the front. › The side of any object which is opposite the…
Convenience and custom have familiarised us to the printed page being a little higher than the middle of the leaf, and to its having a little more margin at the fore edge than in the back.1841, William Savage, A Dictionary of the Art of Printing, Ayer Publishing, published 1965, →ISBN, page 472:
11
The side of a blade opposite the side used for cutting.
Tap it with the back of your knife.
› That which is farthest away from the front.
12
The reverse side; the side that is not normally seen.
I hung the clothes on the back of the door.
13
Area behind, such as the backyard of a house or the rear storeroom of a retail store.
We’ll meet out in the back of the library.
Are you sure you're totally out of hair gel? Could you please check in the back?
14
The part of something that goes last.
The car was near the back of the train.
15
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports In some team sports, a position behind most players on the team.
The backs were lined up in an I formation.
[…]Rovers were also aided by some poor defending from West Brom, whose lapses at the back undid their excellent work on the ball and condemned Roberto di Matteo's Baggies side to a third straight defeat.2010 December 28, Kevin Darlin, “West Brom 1-3 Blackburn”, in BBC:
16
Figuratively The upper part of a natural object which is considered to resemble an animal’s back.
The small boat raced over the backs of the waves.
17
A support or resource in reserve.
This project / Should have a back or second, that might hold, / If this should blast in proof.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vii]:
Business, Mining The roof of a horizontal underground passage.
The stope is kept full of broken ore, sufficient only being drawn to leave a working space between the floor of broken ore and the back of the stope.1911, Robert Bruce Brinsmade, Mining Without Timber, page 161:
A non-alcoholic drink (often water or a soft drink), to go with hard liquor or a cocktail.
Could I get a martini with a water back?
22
Among leather dealers, one of the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
[…]as delivered by a tanner the average weight of a back and two strips would be about 42 pounds[…].1848, Maine Supreme Judicial Court, Maine Reports, volume 6, page 397:
Etymology From Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”). The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback. Compare Middle Low German bak (“back”), from Old Saxon bak, and West Frisian bekling (“chair back”), Old High German bah, Swedish and Norwegian bak. Cognate with German Bache (“sow [adult female hog]”).
Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you’re run off your course again. This is a rich man’s summer ‘cottage’ […].” So I started to back away again into the bushes. But I hadn’t backed more’n a couple of yards when I see something so amazing that I couldn’t help scooching down behind the bayberries and looking at it.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
No sooner had a waiting locomotive backed on to its train, the vociferous 4-6-4 or 4-8-4 re-emerged from under the bridge, and the two red marker lights on the last vehicles passed, than the headlight of the electric engine hauling the following train could be seen under the bridge and the waiting queue of locomotives had moved up one.1954 January, H. P. White, “Vignettes of the Rail”, in Railway Magazine, page 54, at Harmon station, New York:
2
To support.
I back you all the way.
Which horse are you backing in this race?
2 more examples
And Netherlands, backed by a typically noisy and colourful travelling support, started the second period in blistering fashion and could have had four goals within 10 minutes2012 June 9, Owen Phillips, “Euro 2012: Netherlands 0-1 Denmark”, in BBC Sport:
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee backed the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 by 17-5, despite concerns about the bill in U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and anger about the measure from Beijing.2022 September 15, “China lodges complaint as U.S. Senate panel advances Taiwan bill”, in Reuters, archived from the original on 15 Sep 2022, Asia Pacific:
3
Nautical, TransportOf the wind To change direction contrary to the normal pattern; that is, to shift anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere, or clockwise in the southern hemisphere.
4
Nautical, TransportOf a square sail To brace the yards so that the wind presses on the front of the sail, to slow the ship.
5
Nautical, TransportOf an anchor To lay out a second, smaller anchor to provide additional holding power.
6
UK, Of a hunting dog To stand still behind another dog which has pointed.
7
To push or force backwards.
to back oxen
The mugger backed her into a corner and demanded her wallet.
1 more example
The soil seems to be very good; the creek runs through the reserve, and has a dam thrown across it, which backs the water for a very considerable distance, and enables them to irrigate a portion of their cultivation block.1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 279:
I will back him [a horse] straight.c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
The horse was the grey stallion he aye rode, the very beast he had ridden for many a wager with the wild lads of the Cross Keys. No man but himself durst back it, and it had lamed many a hostler lad and broke two necks in its day.1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed, / Appeared to me.1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:
10
To make a back for; to furnish with a back.
to back books
11
To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
He hath a garden circummured with brick, Whose western side is with a vineyard backedc. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
the chalk cliffs which back the beach1877, Thomas Henry Huxley, Physiography: An Introduction to the Study of Nature:
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So this was my future home, I thought![…]Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one’s dreams.1908, W[illiam] B[lair] M[orton] Ferguson, chapter IV, in Zollenstein, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
So we continue climbing to the saddle of the Kleine Scheidegg, where ahead there comes into view the wide expanse of the Grindelwald valley, backed by the snowy crown of the Wetterhorn.1960 December, Voyageur, “The Mountain Railways of the Bernese Oberland”, in Trains Illustrated, page 752:
12
To write upon the back of, possibly as an endorsement.
to back a letter; to back a note or legal document
13
Law To sign or endorse (a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender).
A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers, distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc.