• BACK O’ BEHIND
adj. 1. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – behindhand; tardy; late
adj. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – of slow intellect
• BACK O’ BEHINT
n. 1. 1863 Eng. dial. – a place in the rear or behind; the back of
n. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – an utterly remote spot
• BACK O’ BEYOND
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – very far behindhand
n. 1816 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a remote, obscure place
• BACK OF BOURKE
n. 20C Aust. sl. – the most remote outback, the back of beyond
• BACK OF BURKE
n. 20C sl. – a long way away, a place far away
• BACK OFF!
int. 1950s sl., orig. African-American – go away! stop bothering me!
• BACK OFF JACKSON!
int. 1990s US teen sl. – calm down!
• BACK OFF THE BOARDS
vb. 1921 Amer. sl. – to surpass thoroughly
• BACK OFF THE COURSE
vb. 1965 Aust. sl. – to bet a large amount on something
• BACK OFF THE EARTH
vb. 1918 Amer. sl. – to surpass thoroughly
• BACK OFF THE MAP
vb. 1975 Aust. sl.- to bet a large amount on something
• BACK OF GOD SPEED
phr. 20C Irish sl. – very far away
• BACK OF MY HAND
phr. L19 Irish & Sc. – implies contempt and rejection
• BACK OF MY HAND AND THE SOLE OF MY FOOT
phr. L19 Irish & Sc. – implies contempt and rejection
• BACK OF NOWHERE
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – an out of the way place; a very unimportant place
• BACK OF THE HAND DOWN
n. L19 sl. – bribery
• BACK OF THE LAP
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – the buttocks
• BACK OF THE NECK
n. 1940s Irish sl. – a distasteful person
• BACK OF THE NET!
int. 1. 1980s sl. – a drinking toast; an encouragement to drink or eat
int. 2. 1980s sl. – an exclamation meaning wonderful! perfect!
• BACK ONE OUT
vb. 1. 1840 Amer. dial. – to challenge one, to dare
vb. 2. 1990s sl. – to defecate
• BACK ONE’S FIST
vb. 1990s W. Indies sl. – to masturbate
• BACK ONE’S MAINTOPSAIL
vb. 1856 Amer. nautical sl. – to slow down in walking; to come to a halt
• BACK ONE’S PLAY
vb. 1930 Amer. dial. – to support or defend a person or statement
• BACK ON ONE’S HEELS
adj. 1914 – into a state of discomfiture or astonishment
• BACK ON THE YARD
adj. 1930s US prison sl. – out of solitary confinement
• BACK O’ SUNSET
n. 20C sl. – a long way away, a place far away
• BACK-OUT
n. 1. 1828 Amer. dial. – cowardice; a disposition to retreat from an opponent; the act of withdrawal
n. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a backyard
n. 3. 1970s W. Indies sl. – a woman’s dress cut very low in the back
vb. E19 sl. – (as ‘back out’) to retreat
• BACK-OVER
adv. Bk1898 Sc. – behind
• BACK-OVERMAN
n. 1876 Brit. – in coal mining: an overman who has the immediate inspection of the workings and workmen during the back-shift (the second shift for the day)
• BACK-PARTS
n. 19C US euphemism – the buttocks
• BACK PASSAGE
n. 1960 sl., euphemistic – the rectum
• BACK-PATER-NOSTER
n. a1575 – a muttered curse or imprecation
• BACK PATTER
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an obsequious person; a sycophant; a toady
• BACK-PEDAL!
int. 1910s sl. – used for calling restraint; steady on!
• BACK PEOPLE
n. 1770 Amer. dial. – people who live in the back country
• BACK-PLAYER
n. 1897 – in cricket: a batsman who steps back towards the wicket and plays the ball from behind the popping crease
• BACK PORCH
n. 1950 Amer. dial. jocular usage – the buttocks
• BACK-PORCH YARDMASTER
n. 1977 Amer. dial. – among railroad workers: the foreman of the yard switchmen
• BACK PREMISES
n. M19 sl. – the vagina
• BACKRA
n. 1. c1790 – a master, a boss
n. 2. L18 African-American sl. – a White man
n. 3. 19C African-American sl. – white as a colour
n. 4. 1926 African-American sl. – one who, while Black, moves in White society and sees themself as the White man’s equal
• BACK-RACKET
n. 1608 obs. – the return of a ball in tennis
• BACKRACKETS
n. 1890 Eng. dial. – fireworks
• BACKRA FIRE
n. 20C W. Indies sl. – electricity
• BACKRA JOHNNY
n. 1. 1909 W. Indies sl. – a poor White person
n. 2. 1970 W. Indies sl. – a light-skinned Black person
• BACKRAMAN
n. 1775 W. Indies sl. – a master, a boss
• BACKRA NIGGER
n. 1996 W. Indies sl. – a light-skinned person and, as such, one who is despised
• BACKRANS
adv. 1824 Sc. obs. – backwards
• BACKRA PICKNEY
n. 1. 1894 W. Indies sl. – a White child
n. 2. 1981 W. Indies sl. – a light-skinned mixed-race child
• BACK RATIONS
n. 1830 US nautical sl. – a flogging
• BACK READING ROOM
n. 1965 Amer. dial. – a toilet room or privy
• BACK-RECKONING
n. 1633 obs. – a reckoning for past transactions or misdeeds
• BACK-RIDERS
n. Bk1988 Aust. graffiti sl. – people who ride on the outside of a train to write graffiti
• BACK ROLL
vb. 1980s drugs sl. – to roll a joint so that only 1 layer of paper surrounds the mix
• BACK ROOM
adj. Bk2006 US sl. – secret; concealed
• BACKROOM BOY
n. 1. 1943 sl. – someone engaged on (secret) research
n. 2. 1989 UK homosexual sl. – one who enjoys the semi-public sex of the (often dark) back rooms in homosexual clubs
• BACK ROUND
vb. 1871 Amer. dial. – of the wind: to shift in a counterclockwise direction
• BACK-ROUP
vb. 1866 Sc. – to bid at a public sale merely to raise the price
• BACK-ROUPER
n. 1866 Sc. – a person who bids at a public sale merely to raise the price
• BACK-ROW HOPPER
n. 1909 sl. – a scrounger who frequents taverns in the hope of finding someone willing to buy them a drink
• BACKS
adv. 1967 Amer. dial. – backward
n. 1. 1341 obs. – clothes
n. 2. 1960s US sl. – the buttocks
n. 3. 1966 Amer. sl. – money
• BACK-SASS
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – impertinent talk
vb. 1950 Amer. dial. – to speak impertinently or discourteously
• BACK-SASSER
n. 1969 Amer. dial. – one who speaks rudely; a smart alec. a cheeky person
• BACK SCRATCHER
n. 1834 colloq. – a toady; a flatterer; a sycophant
• BACK-SCRATCHING
n. 1897 colloq. – the performance of mutual services; always with the suggestion of doubt as to the legitimacy of the transactions
• BACK-SCRAWTER
n. 1876 Eng. dial. obs. – a scratcher for the back
• BACK-SCULL
n. 19C Brit. sl. – pederasty
vb. 1. 19C Brit. sl. – to commit pederasty
vb. 2. 19C Brit. sl. – to coit a woman from the rear
• BACK-SCUTTLE
n. 1975 Brit. sl. – pederasty
vb. 1. 1888 Brit. sl. – to commit pederasty
vb. 2. 1888 Brit. sl. – to coit a woman from the rear
• BACKSCUTTLER
n. a1948 Aust. sl. – a sodomite
• BACK SEAT
n. 1860 – a position of inferiority or comparative obscurity
• BACK-SEAT DRIVER
n. 1. 1927 – someone who criticizes or attempts to direct without responsibility, or who controls affairs from a subordinate position; anyone who offers unwanted advice
n. 2. 1998 rhyming sl. for ‘skiver’ – a lazy person, a shirker
• BACK-SEAT PERSON
n. Bk1992 Amer. South – a humble, unobtrusive person; a follower, not a leader
• BACK-SET
n. 1. 1721 – a setting back. a setback; a reverse, check, relapse, hindrance, misfortune
n. 2. 1816 Amer. dial. – a reversal in one’s personal or political affairs
n. 3. 1862 Eng. dial. – an excuse, a colourable pretext
n. 4. 1868 Eng. dial. – something in reserve, esp. applied to a store of money or goods held in reserve against an emergency; hence, a prop, a support
n. 5. Bk1898 Sc. – a relapse in illness
vb. 1. 1866 Sc. – to disgust or upset
vb. 2. Bk1898 Sc. – to fatigue, to weary
• BACKSET AND FORESET
adj. 1869 Eng. dial. – overwhelmed with difficulties; beset behind and before
• BACK-SETTLER
n. 1809 – one who lives in the back settlements of a colony or new country; a settler in the backwoods
• BACKSHEE
adj. M18 sl. – free
n. M18 – a gratuity, a tip
• BACKSHEESH
n. c1750 Eng. sl. – a tip
• BACKSHOOT
vb. 1956 US West. sl. – to shoot a person in the back
• BACK-SHORE
n. 1905 Sc. – the west coast of Scotland on the North Channel
• BACKSHOT
n. 1950s Black British sl. – anal intercourse
• BACKSHOW
n. 2001 UK sl. – in gambling on broadcast racing: any betting before the current show price
• BACK-SHORE
n. 1905 Sc. – the west coast of Scotland on the North Channel
• BACKSIDE
n. 1. c1500 sl. – the buttocks
n. 2. 1541 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – the back premises, the back yard, outbuildings, attached to a dwelling; also, the privy
n. 3. 1634 arch. – the backyard of a house
n. 4. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the close of the year
n. 5. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – a small town
n. 6. 1949 Amer. dial. – the side of a road next to rising ground
• BACKSIDE ARTIST
n. 1980s US homosexual sl. – a male homosexual who enjoys anal intercourse
• BACKSIDE-BEFORE
adv. 1920s Amer. dial. – backwards; in reversed position; inside out
• BACKSIDE-FORE
adv. 1920s Amer. dial. – backwards; in reversed position; inside out
• BACKSIDE-FOREMOST
adv. 1920s Amer. dial. – backwards; in reversed position; inside out
• BACKSIDE-FORWARD(S)
adv. 1920s Amer. dial. – backwards; in reversed position; inside out
• BACKSIDE-FRONT
adv. 1920s Amer. dial. – backwards; in reversed position; inside out
• BACKSIDE OF NOWHERE
n. 1967 Amer. dial. – an out of the way place; a very unimportant place
• BACKSIDE OUTWARDS
adv. 1937 Amer. dial. – backwards; inside out
• BACKSIDES
n. 1. 1823 Sc. – the parts of a town off the main street
n. 2. 1825 Sc. – the ground between a sea-coast town and the sea
• BACKSIDE-TO
adv. 1920s Amer. dial. – backwards; in reversed position; inside out
• BACKSIDING
n. 1997 Black British sl. – chastising, denigrating, punishing, a severe thrashing
• BACKSIE!
int. 1939 Amer. dial. – dirty! filthy!
• BACK SLACK
n. 1908 Amer. sl. – backtalk, cheek, insolence
• BACK SLAMMER CUTOUT
n. 1940s African-American sl. – (premature) death
• BACKSLANG IT
vb. 1. E19 sl. – to leave by the back door; hence, to leave surreptitiously or quietly
vb. 2. E19 sl. – to make a deliberate detour to avoid meeting a certain person or persons
vb. 3. E19 Aust. sl. – to request lodgings from strangers as one travels through the back country
vb. 4. E19 sl. – to enter a house from the back way
• BACK SLAPPER
n. 1. 1924 – a vigorously hearty person; someone who is overly friendly and outgoing
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – an obsequious person; a sycophant; a flatterer; a toady
• BACK SLAPS
n. 1950 Amer. dial. – in marbles: a game played between railroad tracks – have to hit the rail and come back to strike marbles
• BACKSLICE
n. 1980s sl. – of a man or woman: the anus
• BACKSLIDDEN
adj. 1871 – that has relapsed into sin
• BACKSLIDE
n. 1976 US sl., esp. Citizens’ Band usage – a return trip, as in a truck
• BACKSLIDER
n. 1. 1591 – one who backslides or falls away from an adopted course, esp. of religious faith or practice; an apostate; a renegade
n. 2. 1607 sl. – a prostitute
• BACKSLIDERS’ BENCH
n. 1954 Amer. dial. – seats toward the back of the church
• BACKSLIDING
n. 17C sl. – sexual intercourse in the rear-entry position
• BACKSLIT
n. 1980s sl. – of a man or woman: the anus
• BACK SLUM
n. Bk1892 Aust. sl. – a back room. a back entrance
• BACK SLUMMERS
n. Bk1888 sl. – dirty, common, low, and vagrant people who reside in the ‘Back-slums’ (beggars meeting-places; the expression applies to all Metropolitan receptacles of mendicants, prostitutes, thieves, and rogues of every degree to get a night’s lodging)
• BACK SLUMS
n. 19C sl. – areas or streets known for a high proportion of criminal residents
• BACKSMAN
n. 1834 US sl. – a burglar
• BACKSNURGING
n. 2004 UK sl. – sniffing female underwear for sexual pleasure
• BACK SOMEONE OUT
vb. M19 US sl. – to challenge, to face down
• BACK SOMEONE’S PLAY
vb. 1970s US sl. – to support one’s own statement or action, or back up those of another person
• BACK SOMETHING OFF THE BOARDS
vb. 1922 Amer. dial. – to surpass
• BACKSOOK
n. 1908 Sc. – the backwash of the waves after having broken on the shore
• BACKSPANG
n. 1. 1824 Sc. – a reservation, sometimes dishonest; an advantage taken behindhand
n. 2. 1892 Sc. & N. Ireland – an underhand trick, esp. a retreat from a bargain
n. 3. Bk1898 Sc. – a reverse, recoil
n. 4. 1922 Sc. – score for unpaid drinks
• BACK SPANGS
n. c1920 Ireland – unpleasant reflections or returns
• BACK-SPAULD
n. 1. 1821 Sc. – the back part of the shoulder
n. 2. 1824 Sc. – the hind leg
• BACKSPEAK
vb. 1871 Sc. – to gainsay, to reject, to object to
• BACKSPEER
vb. 1808 Sc. – to question, to cross-examine, to inquire into a matter
• BACK-SPEERIN
n. 1827 Sc. – questioning, generally inquisitive cross-examination
• BACK-SPEIR
vb. 1. a1689 Sc. – to re-examine, to cross-examine
vb. 2. 1808 Sc. – to inquire into a report by tracing it as far back as possible
• BACK-SPEIRIN
n. 1827 Sc. – questioning, generally inquisitive cross-examination
• BACKSPIER
vb. 1808 Sc. – to question, to cross-examine, to inquire into a matter
• BACK-SPIERING
adj. 1897 Sc. – inquisitive
n. 1827 Sc. – questioning, generally inquisitive cross-examination
• BACK SPIKER
n. Bk1986 US lumberjacks’ usage – one of the members of a crew who completes the spiking of rails to cross ties after the track has been laid by the steel gang
• BACK-SPOKEN
adj. 1889 Sc. – contradictory, gainsaying
• BACKSPRENT
n. 1820 Sc. – the backbone, the spine
• BACKSTAFF
n. 1953 Amer. dial. – a support Amer. dial.
• BACKSTAGE
adj. 1. 1970s US homosexual sl. – uncouth, rude
adj. 2. 1970s US homosexual sl. – genuine, unpretentious
• BACK-STAIRCASE
n. M19 sl. – a bustle on a dress
• BACKSTALL
n. 1. 1863 UK criminals’ sl. – a member of a garrotting gang who keeps watch and provides physical assistance to the actual garrotter if necessary
n. 2. a1904 UK criminals’ sl. – a thief’s accomplice; one who screens him from view, often the one who flees with the loot
vb. 1952 Amer. dial. – to hold back; to stall
• BACK-STAND
n. 1548 obs. – backing, support
vb. 1938 Amer. dial. – (as ‘backstand’) to support or stand behind another
• BACK-STAP
n. 1932 Sc. – a staggering backwards
• BACKSTAY
n. 1953 Amer. dial. – the background of a story or event
• BACKSTAIRCASE
n. B1890 Eng. sl. – a bustle on a woman’s dress
• BACKSTER
n. 1721 – a baker; also, occasionally, a female baker
• BACK STOCK
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a line of descent; ancestors; one’s parents or relatives of an earlier generation
• BACKSTOP
n. 1. 1773 – in cricket: a fielder some distance behind the wicketkeeper
n. 2. 1919 Aust. sl. – a supporter, an accomplice; someone who can be relied on
n. 3. 1938 Amer. sl. – a diaphragm (birth control)
n. 4. 1950s US criminals’ sl. – in a pickpocket team: the one who works directly behind the victim
• BACKSTRAP
n. 20C sl. – a telephone hookup used by bookies to relay calls and avoid traces
• BACK STREET
n. 1. 1967 Amer. dial. – a poor, usually residential, district
n. 2. 1968 Amer. dial. – a predominantly Black neighbourhood
• BACK STREET BUTCHER
n. Bk2002 criminals’ sl. – an abortionist
• BACK-STREET WIFE
n. 1993 US sl. – a mistress
• BACKSTRESS
n. 1519 obs. – a female baker, a woman who bakes bread
• BACK-SUNDERED
adj. 1851 Eng. dial. – having a northern aspect, shady
• BACK-SUNNED
adj. 1851 Eng. dial. – having a northern aspect, shady
• BACKSWING
n. 1950s US homosexual sl. – a position for homosexual anal intercourse where the passive partner lies on his stomach, presenting buttocks to his partner
• BACK-SWORD
n. 1656 – a fencer with back-sword (a sword with only one cutting edge) or single-stick
• BACK-SWORDMAN
n. 1597 – a fencer with back-sword ( a sword with only one cutting edge) or single-stick
• BACK-SWORDSMAN
n. Bk1909 – a fencer with the single-stick or back-sword
• THE BACKSYFORSY SIDE
n. 1836 Eng. dial. – the back view
• BACK-TALK
n. 1. 1858 orig. Eng. dial. – a retort or reply which is regarded as superfluous or impertinent
n. 2. 20C US jocular usage – flatulence; a release of intestinal gas
vb. 1920s – to be cheeky or impertinent
• BACKTALKING
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – gossiping conversation; cheek, impertinence
• BACK TEETH AFLOAT
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – drunk
• BACK TEETH UNDER WATER
adj. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – descriptive of distress from fullness of the bladder
• BACK THE BARBER
vb. 1950s Aust. sl. – to interfere, to butt in
• BACK THE BARROW
vb. 1910s Aust. sl. – to interfere, to butt in
• BACK THE BREEZE
vb. 1958 Amer. dial. – to talk excessively; to chatter, to gossip
• BACK THE FIELD
vb. 1878 – to bet on the rest of the horses against the favourite
• BACK THE WRONG HORSE
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be wrong, to be mistaken; to make an inappropriate choice
• BACK-THOCHT
n. 1927 Sc. – a reflection, suspicion
• BACK-THRAWS
n. 1923 Sc. – a drawing back from a promise
• BACK-THRUST
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a relapse during illness
• BACK-TIMBER
n. a1656 obs., humorous usage – clothing
• BACK TIME
n. 1950s US criminals’ sl. – time spent in prison awaiting sentencing
• BACK-TO-BACK
adj. 1. 1980s African-American sl. – affectionate, friendly, intimate
adj. 2. 1980s African-American sl. – of a person: outstanding, superb
adv. 1970s African-American sl. – of the greatest possible extent; comprehensively, fully
n. 1994 US drug culture sl. – heroin then crack cocaine used in sequence
• BACK-TOOTH HOG
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – a pig that doesn’t grow well and is not worth keeping
• BACK TO TAW
phr. 1955 Amer. dial. – in marbles: in certain situations a player must return to the point from which he rolled or shot his marble
• BACK TO THE CACTUS
phr. 1930s Aust. navy usage – back to duty after leave
• BACK TO THE FARM
adj. 1945 Amer. dial. – among railroad workers: laid off; fired
• BACK-TO-THE-LANDER
n. 1903 – a townsman converted into a rural worker
• BACK TO THE SALT MINES
phr. Bk2006 US sl. – back to the workplace
• BACK-TRACE
vb. Bk1911 Sc. – to investigate past events
• BACK-TRACK
vb. 1. 1904 US – to return
vb. 2. 1950s drug culture sl. – to withdraw the plunger of the syringe, before an injection into the vein by sucking up some blood
• BACK-TRACKER
n. 1946 – one who returns
• BACK-TURN
n. 1932 Sc. – a relapse
• BACK-UP
adj. 18C colloq. – annoyed; aroused
n. 1. 1869 baseball usage – in baseball: a player who fills in for a regularly assigned player when the latter is unable to play; a substitute
n. 2. 1920s Aust. sl. – a second helping of food
n. 3. c1945 Aust. sl. – serial copulation of one female with a number of males
n. 4. 1980s Aust. & NZ sl. – retaliation, revenge
n. 5. 1990 Aust. prison sl. – one who can be relied on for support, as in a fight
vb. 1. c1860 colloq. – (as ‘back up’) to be ready to help, chiefly in games
vb. 2. c1870 Winchester College sl. – (as ‘back up’) to call out, as for help
vb. 3. 1910s US sl. – (as ‘back up’) to back down
vb. 4. 1920s Aust. sl. – (as ‘back up’) to take a second helping of food
vb. 5. 1930s drug culture sl. – (as ‘back up’) to refuse to sell drugs on the premise that the purchaser might be an informer or undercover policeman
vb. 6. 1930s drug culture sl. – (as ‘back up’) to distend the vein during drug taking, thus making it easier to insert the needle
vb. 7. 1960s drug culture sl. – (as ‘back up’) to pump the hypodermic so that blood comes into the tube, mixing with the drug/water solution before shooting it back into the vein
vb. 8. 1960s Aust. & US sl. – (as ‘back up’) to have serial sex with a woman
vb. 9. 1970s NZ prison sl. – (as ‘back up’) to re-offend, to repeat
vb. 10. 1980s Aust. & NZ sl. – (as ‘back up’) to take revenge, esp. when in a gang
vb. 11 20C sl. – (as ‘back up’) to go away, to retreat; to stop talking
• BACK UP A CAR LENGTH
vb. 1897 Amer. dial. – to be thus addressed signifies that your tale is improbable and should be modified
• BACKUP MAN
n. Bk1992 con artists’ sl. – the accomplice of a confidence man, usually the one who lures the victim
• BACK UP OFF MY TIP
phr. 2000s African-American teen sl. – stop annoying me, go away
• BACK UP OFF MY TIP FOR THE SIMPLE FACT YOU ON IT LIKE A GNAT
phr. 2000s African-American teen sl. – stop annoying me, go away
• BACK-UP PILLS
n. c1910 sl. – aphrodisiacs
• BACK-VAGE
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the homeward voyage
• BACKVELDER
n. 1911 – a dweller in the backveld (in S. Afr., the primitive or unprogressive rural districts lying away from the towns)
• BACKWARD
adj. 1. 1583 obs. – perverse, unfavourable
adj. 2. 1610 obs. – placed towards or at the back or rear
adj. 3. 1884 Eng. dial. – of the seasons, vegetation, etc.: behindhand, late
adj. 4. 1889 Eng. & Amer. dial. – unwilling, reluctant; shy, bashful, diffident; slow
adj. 5. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – belonging to the past, old-fashioned, ancient
n. 1627 obs. – the hinder part of the body
vb. 1594 obs. – to put or keep back; to delay, to retard
• BACKWARD IN COMING FORWARD
adj. 1899 colloq. – reluctant, shy to do something; reticent
• BACKWARDING
prep. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – relapsing into sickness
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a change from joy to mourning
• BACKWARD IN GOING FORWARD
adj. 1899 Amer. dial. – reluctant, shy
• BACKWARDLY
adv. 1. 1552 obs. – again, over again
adv. 2. 1580 – reluctantly, unwillingly, sluggishly
adv. 3. a1586 obs. – perversely
• BACKWARDNESS
n. 1597 – reluctance, disinclination; slowness of conception or action, sluggishness; bashfulness
• BACKWARD RUNNER
n. Bk1999 baseball usage – in baseball: a baserunner who, having advanced one or more bases, is forced to return to a previous base; if such a runner has tagged a new base while advancing, he must retouch that base before returning to the original one
• BACKWARDS
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – awkward, clumsy
adv. 1841 Eng. dial. – behindhand
n. 1. 1966 US drugs sl. – any central nervous system depressant
n. 2. 1970s sl. – the state of mind specific to taking a barbiturate
n. 3. 1990s sl. – an unpleasant experience while using LSD
• BACKWARDS-BEHIND
adv. 1967 Amer. dial. – backwards; inside out
• BACKWARDS-FRONT
adv. 1967 Amer. dial. – backwards; inside out
• BACKWARDS-IN
adv. 1967 Amer. dial. – backwards; inside out
• BACKWARDS-WAY-BEFORE
adv. 1967 Amer. dial. – backwards; inside out
• BACKWARD THINKING
n. 1980s African-American sl. – confused, muddled thinking
• BACKWARN
vb. 1884 Eng. dial. – to put off, to countermand
• BACKWASH
n. 1. L19 – repercussions
n. 2. 1906 Amer. sl. – insolent or nonsensical talk; backtalk, cheek
n. 3. 1992 US college sl. – saliva, as mixed with the remnants of a drink
• BACKWASHING
n. 2003 UK drug culture sl. – after injecting a drug, the drawing of blood back into the syringe, with the intention of collecting any drug residue, and reinjecting the resultant mix
• BACK-WATCH
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a reserve fund put by against an emergency
• BACKWATER
n. 1. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a stream from the sea
n. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – the ebb of the tide
vb. 1844 Amer. dial. – (as ‘back water’) to retreat, to withdraw, as from an argument or position
• THE BACKWATER IS STANDING IN MY EYES
phr. 1950 Amer. dial. – my bladder is full
• BACKWAY
adv. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – wrongly, awkwardly; in a manner opposed to the proper mode of procedure
n. 1. L16 sl. – (usually as ‘back way’) the anus; the anus in anal copulation
n. 2. Bk1898 Eng. & Amer. dial. – the yard or space at the back of a house or cottage
• BACKWAY-ON
adv. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – wrongly, awkwardly; in a manner opposed to the proper mode of procedure
• BACKWAYS
adv. 1968 Amer. dial. – backward
• BACK-WIND
vb. 1899 – to be taken, or cause to be taken, aback
• BACKWITH
adv. 1932 Sc. – backwards
• BACKWOODER
n. 1968 Amer. dial. – a rustic; a countrified person
• BACKWOODSER
n. 1940 Amer. dial. – a countrified person; a rustic
• BACKWOODSEY
n. 1970 Amer. dial. – a poor white from the back country
• BACKWOODS JOCKEY
n. 1954 Amer. dial. – a farmer
• BACKWOODSTER
n. c1935 Amer. dial. – a rustic; a countrified person
• BACKWOODSY
adj. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – boorish; rustic
• BACK-WORD
n. 1. 1841 Eng. dial. – a withdrawal from an engagement
n. 2. 1874 Eng. dial. – a contention, retort, reply
• BACKWORTH
adv. 1932 Sc. – backwards
• BACKY
n. 1. 1821 colloq. – tobacco
n. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – nonsense
n. 3. 1908 Amer. dial. – a backhouse; a privy
n. 4. Bk2007 UK sl. – a ride on the back of someone’s bicycle
• BACKYARD
adj. 1910s sl., orig. Aust. – small, trivial, insignificant; esp. used of business conducted from one’s own home
n. 1. 1960s US sl. – the buttocks; esp. in the context of anal intercourse
n. 2. Bk1975 circus usage – (as ‘back yard’) the performers in a circus, as opposed to the administrative staff
• BACKYARD COUSIN
n. 1983 Amer. dial. – a relation, possibly an illegitimate child, of whom the speaker is not especially proud to own
• BACKYARDER
n. 1922 Brit. sl. – someone who keeps chickens in their backyard
• BACKYARD RELATION
n. 1939 Amer. dial. – a relative by illegitimate birth
• BACK-YARD SOLDIER
n. Bk1944 services’ sl. – one who lives nearby and goes home on the weekends
• BACKYARD TROTS
n. 1960s US sl. – diarrhoea
• BACKY-HOUSE
n. 1949 Amer. dial. – a backhouse; a privy
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Updated: September 9, 2022
Lexicophilia 