backbone 
backbone, to the; utmost extent of one's power or nature; 
i >ul unit "iti ; thoroughly ; entirely. 
Jolly old Uurlio, staunch in th<- linrklxme. 
lltiliin-, luit I>ays of I'olupeii, ii. 1. 
A true-blue Tory /o the bftckliniie. T. //!/,///'*. 
(ianie tu the txu'koniie. Trollop?. 
backboned (bak'bond'), a. Vertebrated; fur- 
nished with a backbone. 
backcap (bak'kup), " ' To depreciate or dis- 
parage. [U. S. slaiif^. | 
backcarryt (bak'kar"i), . In old J'-m.l.. furi'xt 
law, the crime of having game on the back, as 
deer unlawfully killed. See backlicar. 
back-casing (bak'ka'siiig), ". In milting. 
wall or lining of dry bricks, used in sinking 
through sand or gravel. Within it the permanent 
wall of the sliuft is built u|i, lifter the bed-rock or stone- 
heail ll;uj been reached. 
back-cast (bak'kast), n, [< back 1 , adr., + 
cast, .] 1. A cast or throw back. 2. A 
backward stroke, or a stroke driving one back ; 
hence, figuratively, any discouragement or 
cause of relapse or failure. [Scotch.] 
back-cast (bak'kast), a. [< back 1 , adr., + 
cast, pp.] Cast or thrown back: as, "back- 
cast thoughts," Joanna liaillie. 
back-center (bak'sen*ter), n. In a lathe, the 
point of the back or dead spindle of the tail- 
stock. It supports thut end of the piece which is to lie 
turned. The front miter is that part of the live spindle 
which is in tin' headstoek. -Back-center screw, in a 
lathe, the screw which gives longitudinal motion to the 
back-center. 
back-chain (bak'chan), n. A chain that passes 
over the saddle of a horse's harness to support 
the shafts of a cart or wagon. 
back-cloth (bak'kloth), n. 1. In calico-print- 
in/1, a reinforcing cloth used to support a fab- 
ric which is being printed. 2. Naut., a tri- 
angular piece of canvas fastened in the middle 
of a topsail-yard to facilitate the stowing of 
the bunt of the topsail. 
backed (bakt), p. a. [< back 1 , n. or ., + -ed2.] 
In composition, having a back (with the qual- 
ity or characteristic noted in the first part 
of the word): as, a high-backed chair; hump- 
backed; broad-ftacfced. 
Old rickety tables and chairs broken-Saafc'd. Thackeray. 
backen (bak'n), v. t. [< back 1 , adv., + -en 1 .] To 
hold back ; retard. Halliwell. [Local in Eng. 
and U. S.] 
back-end (bak'end), n. The latter end or part ; 
especially (Scotch), the latter part of autumn. 
The hedges will do, I clipped them wi' my ain hands 
last back-end. J. Wilson. 
backer 1 (bak'er), n. [< back 1 , v., + -er 1 .] 1. 
One who backs or gets on the back: as, a backer 
of untamed horses. 2. One who backs or sup- 
ports, or who aids and abets, another in an 
undertaking, especially in any trial of skill, 
agility, or strength; also, one who bets or 
"lays" his money in favor of a particular per- 
son, horse, etc., in a contest; one who indorses 
the notes or sustains the credit of another. 
The local combinations and their political backers found 
opportunity to rally. A". A. Sev., CXXIII. 304. 
3. In arch., a narrow slate laid on the back of 
a broad square-headed one, where the slates 
begin to diminish in width. 4. Naut., a strap 
of rope or sennit fastened to a yard-arm to se- 
cure the head-earings of a sail. 
backer-t, adv. [< back 1 , adv., + -er%.] Same as 
backermore. 
backermoret, <idv. [ME., a double compar., < 
backer 2 + -more. Cf. furthermore, Undermost, 
etc.] More or further back. 
With that anon I went me backirmore. 
La Belle Vaine nans tlercie, 1. 85. (IlaUiwell.) 
backermostt, " xii/nrl. [< barker- + -most.] 
Backmost. 
backet (bak'et). ii. [< F. baquet, trough, dim. 
of bav : see back 3 .] A trough or box, especially 
418 
one for carrying ashes or cinders; a hod or 
coal-scuttle. [Scotch.] 
backfall (bak'fal), . 1. In wrestling, a fall or 
trip-up in which a wrestler is thrown upon his 
back. 2. In mitxic, an obsolete melodic deco- 
ration, nearly like the modern long appoggia- 
tura: called a double backfall when prolonged. 
Written. 
I'layeil. 
Double Backfall. 
3. In orgfiii-biiildhig, a lever whose front end 
is raised by the motion of a digital or pedal 
transmitted through a sticker (which see), its 
back end being correspondingly depressed : a 
device for transforming upward motion into 
downward. 
backfallert (bak'fa'ler), n. [< back 1 , adv., + 
fuller. Cf. backslider.'] A backslider; a rene- 
gade. 
Onias, with many lyke backJaUen from God, fled into 
Egypte. Jy, Expos, of Daniel, xi. 
back-fillet (bak'fil'et), n. The return of the 
margin of a groin, or of a door- or window-jamb, 
when it projects beyond the face of the wall. 
Such margins are said to be back-filleted. 
back-flap (bak'flap), . That part of a window- 
shutter which folds into a recess made for it 
in the window-casing. 
back-frame (bak'fram), . An internally gear- 
ed wheel supporting the twisting pinions or 
whirlers of a rope-making machine. 
back-friend (bak'frend), n. [< back 1 , a., + 
friend.] If. A false or pretended friend; a 
secret enemy. 
Let him take heed I prove not his back-friend. 
Massiiiger, Virgin-Martyr, ii. 1. 
Far is our church from incroaching upon the civil pow- 
ers, as some who arc backfriends to both would mali- 
ciously insinuate. South. 
2. A friend at one's back ; a backer. [Bare.] 
back-game (bak'gam), n. [< back 1 , a., + game.] 
1. A game at backgammon or chess. 2. A 
return-game. 
backgammon (bak-gam'on), . [Also formerly 
baggammon ; < back 1 , a., + gammon 1 , game 
(see gammon 1 and (/awe 1 ); appar. so called be- 
cause in certain circumstances the pieces are 
obliged to go back and reenter. The reason of 
the name is not certain, but the formation is 
clear. Cf. back-game.'] 1. A game played by 
two persons upon a table or board made for 
the purpose, with pieces or men, dice-boxes, 
and dice. The board is in two parts, usually hinged to- 
gether, on which twenty-four spaces, called points, are 
marked. Each player has fifteen men, with which move- 
ments are made in accordance with the numbers turned 
up by the dice, the object of each player being to advance 
his men to the last six points, and then " throw them off," 
or remove them entirely from the board. 
2. A single bout at backgammon won by a 
player before his opponent has advanced all of 
his men from the first six points. 
backgammon (bak-gam'on), v. t. To beat by 
winning a backgammon. See backgammon, 
n.,2. 
backgammon-board (bak-gam'on-bord), n. 
The board or table on which the game of back- 
gammon is played. 
back-gear (bak'ger), n. The variable speed- 
gear in the headstoek of a power-lathe. 
background (bak'ground), n. 1. The ground 
at the back or behind, as opposed to the front ; 
situation in the rear of those objects, considera- 
tions, etc., which engage the attention ; subordi- 
nate or secondary position in contradistinction 
to principal or important position ; place out of 
sight: used both literally (of physical objects) 
and figuratively : as, there were mountains in 
the background ; the true reasons for this action 
were kept in the background. 
A husband somewhere In the background. Thackeray. 
Forbearance and mercy to enemies are not unknown 
to the Old Testament : but they are in the background. 
G. P. Palter, Begin, of Christianity, p. 22. 
Specifically 2. The part of a picture repre- 
sented as furthest from the spectator's eye: 
opposed to foreground. In pictures of which the 
foreground possesses the chief interest, the background is 
so designed as to enhance the etfect of objects in the fore- 
ground, to which it is kept subordinate in color, etc., often 
serving no other purpose than that of a mere screen or 
setting behind the objects in which the interest U concen- 
backing-boards 
tr;tti-il: as, a portrait with a landscape l>'i<-k<n'")ld ; a 
group of tlynres with buildings in tin- ti'-l^/i'""'l. In 
landscapes, Wlldl 110 sltl-h evident opposition is intendl'll, 
or when UK- chief interest lies in the background, the term 
is proper 1> Used t,, denote the more 1 1 1st ;u it plain s 
ill the picture, as dUtingUlabed from thttfurrymunil and 
tllr ll,;,!'ll.' ,/< ' 
Here we see the rude and simple expedient by whirh, 
t-> atniie for the want of aerial pi rspi-c!i\e, tii 
painters indicated the taofamWMi Of their e..|n]".sit j, >n~ 
Figures nmre distant trom the eye ;ire always represented 
seated or standing' on ;i higher level than tiunre.s in the 
foreground. 0. T. A'tipton, Art and Archa-ol., p. 388. 
The leafless trees become spires of Maine in the siin-et. 
with the blue east for their //n. /,.., mul. 
Kini-i-min, Misc., p. 2.'i. 
3. In plititog., the plain or decorated screens. 
properties, etc., placed behind the subject in 
taking portraits, especially in regular gallery- 
work, in order to form an appropriate setting 
in the finished picture. 
backhand (bak'hand). . and rt. I. n. 1. Writ- 
ing which slopes backward or to the left: as, 
he writes backhand. 2t. In tennis, the posi- 
tion behind the principal player. 
No, faith, that's odds at tennis, my lord ; not but if 
your ladyship pleases, 111 endeavour to keep your lun'k- 
hand a little, tho' IIJMUI m> soul you may safely set me up 
at the line. Cibber, Careless Husband, iv. 
II. . Backhanded; unfavorable; unfair: as, 
it Ixirkltaiid influence. 
backhanded (bak'han'ded), a. 1. With the 
back of the hand: as, a backhanded blow. 2. 
Done or effected with the hand turned back- 
ward, crosswise, or in any oblique direction; 
marked by a backward slope, direction, or ef- 
fect: as, backhanded writing; a backhanded 
stroke in sword-play or lawn-tennis, in the lat- 
ter game a backhanded stroke is one that causes the ball 
to rotate so as to have a tendency on striking the ground 
to bound backward in the direction of the striker. 
Hence 3. Figuratively, oblique in meaning; 
indirect ; equivocal ; ambiguous ; sarcastic : as, 
a backhanded compliment. 4. Twisted in the 
opposite way from the usual method : said of a 
rope. 
One part plain-laid and the other backhanded rope. 
Luce, Seamanship, p. 252. 
backhandedly (bak'han'ded-li), adv. With the 
hand directed backward: as, to strike back- 
handedly. 
backhandedness (bak'han'ded-nes), n. The 
state of being backhanded ; unfairness. 
backhander (bak'han'der), n. A blow with 
the back of the hand : as, to strike one a back- 
hander. 
backhead (bak'hed), n. 1 . The back part of 
the head: opposed to forehead. 2f. False hair 
worn on the back of the head. 
backhouse 1 (bak'hous), n. [< back 1 , a., + 
house.] A building behind or back from the 
main or front building; hence, in country 
places, especially in New England, a privy. 
backhouse'-H, Same as bakehouse. 
backing (bak'ing), n. [Verbal n. of back 1 , r.] 
1. Support, physical or moral; supporters or 
backers collectively. 2f. The address of a let- 
ter. 3. Something placed at or attached to 
the back of something else to support, strength- 
en, or finish it ; the act of providing anything 
with such a support. Especially (a) A layer or lay- 
ers of timber, generally teak, on which the iron plates of 
armor-clad ships are bolted, (ft) A heavy plating of wood, 
or wood and iron, supporting the armor-plates of fortifica- 
tions or of targets from behind ; a thick bed of rammed 
sand or concrete placed behind armored works or targets. 
The concrete might be faced with a comparatively thin 
steel plate which would explode the shell, and so save the 
backing. London Engineer. 
(c) In bookbinding, the curving of the back of sewed sheets 
intended for a book, with intent (1) to spread the thread 
so that the book will not be thicker at the back than at the 
fore edge ; (2) to make a secure rest in the arched groove 
at either side for the cover ; (3) to make the back flexible, 
so that the leaves of the book shall be flat when open. 
Backing is done by beating with a hammer or rolling with 
a machine, (d) In weaviny, thewebof coarser or stronger 
material at the back of such piled fabrics as velvet, plush, 
satin, Brussels carpet, etc. (c) In photoft., a coating of a 
dull, dark pigment, placed on the back of the sensitized 
plate in some classes of work to absorb light that might 
otherwise pass through the film, be reflected again upon 
it from the back of the glass, and cause an effect of blur- 
ring. Such a backing is useful in taking pictures in the 
direction of the chief light, or those in which some por- 
tions of the field are very highly illuminated while others 
adjoining them are dark. (./) In printing, the printing of 
the second side of a sheet, (a) In electrotupiny, the metal 
used to back up or strengthen an electrotype. (A) In 
theat., that portion of a scene on a stage which is revealed 
through an open door or window. Backing Of an arch, 
the course of masonry which rests upon the extrados of 
an arch. 
backing-boards (bak'ing-bordz), . pi. In 
liin>l;hindinn, boards of hard wood, faced with 
steel, which are used in pairs for the purpose 
of clamping together the sewed sheets of an 
