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back
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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. [1913 Webster] 2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge. [1913 Webster] [The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave Into the clouds. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this, Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss. --Donne. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] 6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw. [1913 Webster] 7. A support or resource in reserve. [1913 Webster] This project Should have a back or second, that might hold, If this should blast in proof. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship. [1913 Webster] 9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage. [1913 Webster] 10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] A bak to walken inne by daylight. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Backed (b[a^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Backing.] [1913 Webster] 1. To get upon the back of; to mount. [1913 Webster] I will back him [a horse] straight. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.] [1913 Webster] Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed, Appeared to me. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen. [1913 Webster] 4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books. [1913 Webster] 5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of. [1913 Webster] A garden . . . with a vineyard backed. --Shak. [1913 Webster] The chalk cliffs which back the beach. --Huxley. [1913 Webster] 6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with rewards and punishments. --South. [1913 Webster] The mate backed the captain manfully. --Blackw. Mag. [1913 Webster] 8. To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] .
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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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