backing-boards 
unbound book while the l>ack is being roimclerl 
with a hammer. 
backing-deals (bak'iiig-delz), . //. In EIKJ- 
lisii coal-mining, boards or plunks placed be- 
hind the curb's of a shaft, to keep the earth 
behind in place. 
backing-hammer fbak'ing-liam'te),*. Aham- 
mer used in beating into shape the backs of 
books. 
backing-iron (bak'ing-i"ern), n. Aii iron block 
having upon four sides longitudinal grooves of 
different widths and depths, suitable to different 
sizes of books, and used in shaping their backs. 
backing-metal (bak'ing-met"al), n. A compo- 
sition of type-metal, in which' lead is the chief 
ingredient, which is poured into an electrotype- 
shell of copper to form the backing of the elec- 
trotype-plate. 
backing-pan (bak'ing-pan), n. A pan in which 
electrotype-shells are placed face downward, 
while the molten metal with which they are 
backed is poured over them. 
backings (bak'ingz), it. pi. The refuse of wool 
or flax after it is dressed ; the tow thrown off 
by the second hackling of flax. 
back-joint (bak'joint), n. In masonry, a rebate 
such as that made on the inner side of a chim- 
neypiece to receive a slip. 
backlash (bak'lash), n. 1. In mccii., the jar- 
ring reaction of each of a pair of wheels upon 
the other, produced by irregularities of velocity 
when the load is not constant or the moving 
power is not uniform. 2. In coal-mining, the 
backward suction of the air-current after an ex- 
plosion of fire-damp Backlash of a screw, the 
play between a screw ana its nut when the latter is loosely 
fitted. Backlash-spring, a spring fitted to a machine to 
keep the moving parts in contact and prevent backlash. 
backless (bak'les), a. [< back 1 , n., + -less.'] 
Without a back : as, backless benches. 
backling, backlings (bak'ling, -lingz), adr. 
[Sc. tackling, < AS. baicliny, in adv. phrase on 
bwcliny, back, behind ; < bate, back. + -ling, adv. 
suffix. Cf. darkling, headlong.] Backward. 
back-lining (bak'li'ning), n. In windows, a 
piece of sash-frame parallel to the pulley- 
piece and next to the jamb on each side. 
back-link (bak'lingk), n. In engines, one of 
the links in a parallel motion which connect 
the air-pump rod to the beam. 
backlog (bak'log), n. A large log placed at the 
back of an open wood-fire to sustain combus- 
tion and concentrate the heat. 
1'ew people know how to make a wood fire, but every- 
body thinks he or she does. You want, first, a large back- 
log, which does not rest on the andirons. 
C. D. Warner, Backlog Studies, p. 0. 
backlook (bak'luk), n. Eetrospective view: 
as, to take a backlook. [Rare.] 
back-lye (bak'H), . [< back 1 + lye for lie 1 .'] 
In coat-mining, a siding or shunt on an under- 
ground railway. Gresley. [North. Eng.] 
back-mill (bak'mil), n. A fulling-mill. Ure, 
Diet. 
back-mold (bak'mold), n. In reversing mold- 
ing, that part of the mold which conforms to 
the back of the pattern or model. 
backmost (bak'most), a. superl. [< back 1 , adr., 
+ -most. Cf. backermore.] Hindmost: opposed 
to foremost. [Rare.] 
back-overman (bak'6"ver-man), H. In coal- 
mining, a man whose dutyit'is to see to the 
safety of a district of underground workings, 
and of the men working in it, during the back- 
shift. Gresley. [North. Eng.] 
back-painting (bak'pan*ting), n. A method 
of applying varnish colors to mezzotint prints 
affixed to glass, in such a manner that they 
appear as if painted on the glass. 
backpiece (bak'pes), . A piece at the back 
of something; specifically, a piece of armor 
which covered the back and was connected 
with the breastplate by straps and buckles, 
hooks, and the like. See back and breast, un- 
der back 1 , n. 
backplate (bak'plat), n. Same as backpiece. 
back-pressure (bak'presh'ur). . Pressure 
backward or in the reverse of the normal direc- 
tion ; specifically, 
the resistance of 
the atmosphere or 
of waste steam to 
the action of the 
piston of a steam- 
engine. - Back-pres- 
sure valve, in math., a 
valve placed within a 
supply-pipe or over an 
inlet-orifice, to prevent Back-pressure valve. 
414 
the backward flow- of a fluid or gas when the pressure in 
the normal direction falls below that in the reservoir or 
chamber to which the fluid is supplied. 
backrackt, backragt. . See Baebaraeh. 
back-rackett (bak'rak"et), n. The return of a 
ball in tennis; hence, figuratively, a counter- 
charge. 
/Ilia. Why, are not debts better than words, sir? 
Wit. Are not words promises, and are not promises 
debts, sir? 
Iloa. He plays at b(t<-k-f<fk<'t with me. 
MidMrtnn, Trick to Catch the Old One, iv. 4. 
back-raking (bak'riV'king), ii. In farriery, an 
operation by which hardened fseces are with- 
drawn from the rectum. 
back-rent (bak'rent), n. 1. Arrears of rent. 
2. In Xcots l<nc, a rent paid subsequently to 
reaping. Thus, when a tenant entering with a lease 
is allowed to reap and sell his first crop before paying his 
rent, the rent in this case is termed a back-rent, in con- 
tradistinction to fore-rent, a rent payable before the first 
croli is reaped. 
back-rest (bak'rest), it. A guide attached to 
the slide-rest of a lathe and placed in contact 
with the work to steady it in turning. 
back-returnt (bak're-tern"), n. A going or 
coming back; return. 
Harry's back-return again to France. 
Skak., Hen. V., v. (cho). 
backstay 
back-slang (bak'slang), M. [< back*, a. oraiir., 
+ clang. Cf. palindrome.] A species of slang 
in which the words are pronounced or written 
backward, or as nearly so as the skill of the 
speaker or writer, or the possibility of pro- 
nouncing the word, will permit: thus, penny 
becomes yennep ; woman, nammr, and so on. 
backslide (bak-slld'), r. /. ; pret. backslid (some- 
times backslided), pp. lxirk.il id, backslidden 
(sometimes backslided), ppr. backsliding. [< 
back 1 , adv., + slide.] To slide back, in a figu- 
rative sense ; apostatize ; turn from the faith ; 
depart from or abandon religious principles or 
practices. 
I have fallen back to my carnal temper, from the holy 
ways of (Jod, and have again baduMded. 
Bp. Hoitkiiix, Works, p. 535. 
When pciTions have been professors of religion, and 
have for various reasons baekxlitiden and declined into a 
carnal and secular life. 
//. W. 
The back-return of Charon's boat. 
Marloicc. 
backrope (bak'rop), n. Naut.: (a) The rope 
or chain-stay extending from the lower end of 
the dolphin-striker to each side of the bows of 
a ship, (b) A small rope attached to the hook 
of the cat-block or fish-nook, to facilitate hook- 
ing it on the anchor __ Martingale backropes. 
See martingale. 
back-saw (bak'sa), /. A saw the web of which 
is stiffened by a metallic back of greater sub- 
stance. Such saws have specific names ac- 
cording to their use, as tenon-saw, dorehiil- 
*air, carcass-saw, etc. 
back-Scraper (bak'skra"per), . Same as back- 
scratcher. 
back-scratcher (bak'skrach''^), w. 1. An im- 
plement for scratching the back, generally 
made of bone or ivory, in the form of a small 
hand fixed to a long slender handle. 
A back-scratcher of which the hand was ivory and the 
handle black. Southeir, The Doctor, iv. 
2. A toy of wood or bone having a thin tongue 
which presses upon a toothed wheel, on the 
principle of a watchman's rattle: when it is 
rubbed on the back of a person, it produces a 
sound like the tearing of cloth. 
backset (bak'set), f. [< back 1 , adv., + get 1 , 
i'.] I.t traits. To set upon in the rear. 
The Israelites . . . [were] backxct, with Pharaoh's whole 
power. Anderson, Expos, of Benedictus, fol. 71 b (1573). 
II. intrans. To plow again, in the autumn, 
]>rairie-land which has been plowed for the 
first time in the preceding spring. [Western 
U, S.] 
backset (bak'set), n. [< back 1 , a. or adv., + set 1 , 
r. or .] 1 . A setting back or backward, as the 
result of some untoward circumstance or op- 
posing agency; a check to progress; retarda- 
tion, or the losing of ground ; a relapse : as, he 
suffered more than one serious backset; a back- 
set which appeared to be fatal. 2. An eddy 
or counter-current in flowing water. 
Of course much of this was slack water, or the backset 
caused by the overflow. Harper's Mag., LXV. 612. 
back-settler (bak'sefler), n. One inhabiting 
the back settlements of a country. 
backsheesh, . See bakshish. 
back-shift (bak'shift), 11. [< back 1 , a., + shift.] 
In coal-mining, a second shift or relay of hewers 
who begin cutting the coal after another set 
have begun to draw it, at the same place. 
backside (bak'sid'), . [< ME. bakside; < back 1 , 
a., + side.] 1. The back part or aspect of any- 
thing ; the part opposite to the front, or behind 
that which is presented to a spectator. [Prop- 
erly two words in this use. See back, a., 1.] 
Specifically 2. The hind part of an animal ; 
the rump : often (vulgarly) in the plural. 3. 
The back premises, back yard, or out-buildings 
attached to a dwelling ; also, the privy. [Obso- 
lete or dialectal.] N. E. D. 
back-sight (bak'sit), n. 1. In surveying, the 
reading of a leveling-rod, taken when looking 
back to a station which has been passed. All 
other readings are called foresights. 2. The 
rear sight of a gun. 
back-skin (bak'skin), . A leather dress used 
by miners when at work in wet places. 
backslider (bak-sli'der), . One who back- 
slides, (n) An apostate; one who falls from the faith 
and practice of religion. Prov. xiv. 14. (b) One who 
neglects his religious vows and falls into habits of sill. 
backsliding (bak-sll'ding), n. A falling back 
in principle or practice ; a lapse in or abandon- 
ment of religious obligation ; apostasy. 
Our iKtckxlidinnii are many: we have sinned against 
thee. Jer. xiv. 7. 
backslidingness (bak-sli'ding-nes), n. The 
state of backsliding. 
back-spear, r. t. See back-sneer. 
back-speed (bak'sped), . In mecli., a second 
speed-gear of a lathe, which can be brought 
into action on the fore-speed, so that second 
series of speeds of the spindle are thereby 
obtained. 
back-speer (bak'sper), v. t. [Sc., also written 
back-spear, -speir, < back 1 , adv., + speer, ask, 
question.] To reexamine or cross-examine. 
[Scotch.] 
back-splinting (bak ' splin ' ting), . Iii coal- 
mining, a system of working coal over the goaf 
and across the packs of a lower one got in ad- 
vance upon the long-wall method. Gresley. 
back-spring (bak'spring), . 1. A spring 
formed in the bolt of a lock by cutting a longi- 
tudinal slit near its upper edge, thus leaving a 
strip of unsupported metal which by elastic 
pressure springs the bolt into its place when it 
is left by the key. 2. The spring at the rear 
of the body of a vehicle ; specifically, a C-spring 
which rides up at the back of the carriage, the 
body of the latter being suspended from the 
forward end. 3. A spring backward. 
back-staff (bak'staf), n. An instrument for- 
merly used for measuring the sun's altitude at 
sea : so called because in using it the observer 
turned his back to the sun. 
backstair, backstairs (bak'star, -starz), . 
and a. I. . A stair or stairs in the back 
part of a house ; private stairs. [Properly two 
words. See back 1 , a., 1.] 
II. n. 1 . Of or pertaining to stairs in the back 
part of a house: as, a backstair entrance. 2. 
Indirect; underhand; unfair; intriguing: as, 
backstair influence. 
He's like a backstair minister at court, who, whilst the 
reputed favourites are sauntering in the l>ed-chamber, is 
ruling the roast in the closet. I'anbntgh, Relapse, Ii. 1. 
Is he not a back-stairs favourite one that can do what 
he pleases with those that do what they please? 
Ooldmnith, Good-Natured Man, ii. 
back-Stall (bak'stal), . The thief who walks 
behind the chief operator in a garrote-robbery 
to conceal him when at work and make off with 
the booty. [Thieves' slang.] See garrotc. 
backstandt (bak'stand), . Support; some- 
thing to fall back upon. 
A sure etaye and a stedfast Imfataiule at home. 
Ifall, Hen. VII. 
backstay (bak'sta), u. 1. In printing, a strap 
of leather used to check the carriage of a 
printing-press. 2. In coal-mining, a forked bar 
of wrought-iron attached to the back of the 
mine-car when ascending an inclined plane, 
for the purpose of stopping the car in case of 
accident. [Yorkshire, Eng. ] 3. Arod extend- 
ing from the perch to the outer end of the rear 
axle of a carriage. 4. One of the flaps of a 
carriage-top. 5. In purchase-shears, a power- 
ful spring placed at the back of the moving 
blade to keep the two cutting edges in contact. 
6. In metal-turning, an adjustable support for 
any very long or slender article. 7. pi. Naut., 
long ropes extending backward from the heads 
of all masts above the lower mast and fastened 
