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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Back \Back\, n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. bag, bak a bark, D. bak tray,
bowl.]
1. 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.
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{Hop back}, {Jack back}, the cistern which receives the
infusion of malt and hops from the copper.

{Wash back}, a vat in which distillers ferment the wort to
form wash.

{Water back}, a cistern to hold a supply of water; esp. a
small cistern at the back of a stove, or a group of pipes
set in the fire box of a stove or furnace, through which
water circulates and is heated.
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2. A ferryboat. See {Bac}, 1.
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Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), n. [AS. b[ae]c, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., &
LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn,
OSlav. b[=e]g[u^] flight. Cf. {Bacon}.]
1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending
from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals,
that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to
such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish,
or lobster.
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2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
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[The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave
Into the clouds. --Milton.
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3. The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the
inner or lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of
the foot, the back of a hand rail.
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Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this,
Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss.
--Donne.
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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.
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5. The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which
fronts the speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or
not generally seen; as, the back of an island, of a hill,
or of a village.
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6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its
edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
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7. A support or resource in reserve.
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This project
Should have a back or second, that might hold,
If this should blast in proof. --Shak.
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8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
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9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a
horizontal underground passage.
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10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. [Obs.]
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A bak to walken inne by daylight. --Chaucer.
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{Behind one's back}, when one is absent; without one's
knowledge; as, to ridicule a person behind his back.

{Full back}, {Half back}, {Quarter back} (Football), players
stationed behind those in the front line.

{To be on one's back} or {To lie on one's back}, to be
helpless.

{To put one's back up} or {to get one's back up}, to assume
an attitude of obstinate resistance (from the action of a
cat when attacked). [Colloq.]

{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.
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Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Backed} (b[a^]kt); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Backing}.]
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1. To get upon the back of; to mount.
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I will back him [a horse] straight. --Shak.
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2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]
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Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed,
Appeared to me. --Shak.
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3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede;
as, to back oxen.
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4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back
books.
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5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
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A garden . . . with a vineyard backed. --Shak.
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The chalk cliffs which back the beach. --Huxley.
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6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to
indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
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7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or
influence; as, to back a friend. "The Parliament would be
backed by the people." --Macaulay.
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Have still found it necessary to back and fortify
their laws with rewards and punishments. --South.
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The mate backed the captain manfully. --Blackw. Mag.
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8. To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.
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{To back an anchor} (Naut.), to lay down a small anchor ahead
of a large one, the cable of the small one being fastened
to the crown of the large one.

{To back the field}, in horse racing, to bet against a
particular horse or horses, that some one of all the other
horses, collectively designated "the field", will win.

{To back the oars}, to row backward with the oars.

{To back a rope}, to put on a preventer.

{To back the sails}, to arrange them so as to cause the ship
to move astern.

{To back up}, to support; to sustain; as, to back up one's
friends.

{To back a warrant} (Law), is for a justice of the peace, in
the county where the warrant is to be executed, to sign or
indorse a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend
an offender.

{To back water} (Naut.), to reverse the action of the oars,
paddles, or propeller, so as to force the boat or ship
backward.
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Back \Back\, a.
1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the
back door; back settlements.
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2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
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3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
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{Back blocks}, Australian pastoral country which is remote
from the seacoast or from a river. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]


{Back charges}, charges brought forward after an account has
been made up.

{Back filling} (Arch.), the mass of materials used in filling
up the space between two walls, or between the inner and
outer faces of a wall, or upon the haunches of an arch or
vault.

{Back pressure}. (Steam Engine) See under {Pressure}.

{Back rest}, a guide attached to the slide rest of a lathe,
and placed in contact with the work, to steady it in
turning.

{Back slang}, a kind of slang in which every word is written
or pronounced backwards; as, nam for man.

{Back stairs}, stairs in the back part of a house; private
stairs. Also used adjectively. See {Back stairs},
{Backstairs}, and {Backstair}, in the Vocabulary.

{Back step} (Mil.), 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.
[Colloq.]
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Back \Back\, v. i.
1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
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2. (Naut.) To change from one quarter to another by a course
opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.
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3. (Sporting) To stand still behind another dog which has
pointed; -- said of a dog. [Eng.]
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{To back and fill}, to manage the sails of a ship so that the
wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in
order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel
while the current or tide carries the vessel against the
wind. Hence: (Fig.) To take opposite positions
alternately; to assert and deny. [Colloq.]

{To back out}, {To back down}, to retreat or withdraw from a
promise, engagement, or contest; to recede. [Colloq.]
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Cleon at first . . . was willing to go; but, finding
that he [Nicias] was in earnest, he tried to back
out. --Jowett
(Thucyd. )
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Back \Back\, adv. [Shortened from aback.]
1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step
back.
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2. To the place from which one came; to the place or person
from which something is taken or derived; as, to go back
for something left behind; to go back to one's native
place; to put a book back after reading it.
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3. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back
to private life; to go back to barbarism.
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4. (Of time) In times past; ago. "Sixty or seventy years
back." --Gladstone.
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5. Away from contact; by reverse movement.
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The angel of the Lord . . . came, and rolled back
the stone from the door. --Matt.
xxviii. 2.
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6. In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to
keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to
another.
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7. In a state of restraint or hindrance.
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The Lord hath kept thee back from honor. --Numb.
xxiv. 11.
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8. In return, repayment, or requital.
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What have I to give you back? --Shak.
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9. In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking;
as, he took back the offensive words.
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10. In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent. [Colloq.]
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{Back and forth}, backwards and forwards; to and fro.

{To go back on}, to turn back from; to abandon; to betray;
as, to go back on a friend; to go back on one's
professions. [Colloq.]
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