Chapter Bachelor's button to Backlog of B by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Backbond
(Back"bond`) n. [Back, adv. + bond.] (Scots Law) An instrument which, in conjunction with another making an absolute disposition, constitutes a trust.

Backbone
(Back"bone") n. [2d back, n. + bone.]

1. The column of bones in the back which sustains and gives firmness to the frame; the spine; the vertebral or spinal column.

2. Anything like, or serving the purpose of, a backbone.

The lofty mountains on the north side compose the granitic axis, or backbone of the country.
Darwin.

We have now come to the backbone of our subject.
Earle.

3. Firmness; moral principle; steadfastness.

Shelley's thought never had any backbone.
Shairp.

To the backbone, through and through; thoroughly; entirely. "Staunch to the backbone." Lord Lytton.

Backboned
(Back"boned") a. Vertebrate.

Backcast
(Back"cast`) n. [Back, adv. + cast.] Anything which brings misfortune upon one, or causes failure in an effort or enterprise; a reverse. [Scot.]

Back door
(Back" door") A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way. Atterbury.

Backdoor
(Back"door"), a. Acting from behind and in concealment; backstairs; as, backdoor intrigues.

Backdown
(Back"down`) n. A receding or giving up; a complete surrender. [Colloq.]

Backed
(Backed) a. Having a back; fitted with a back; as, a backed electrotype or stereotype plate. Used in composition; as, broad-backed; hump-backed.

Backer
(Back"er) n. One who, or that which, backs; especially one who backs a person or thing in a contest.

Backfall
(Back"fall`) n. [2d back, n. + fall.] A fall or throw on the back in wrestling.

Backfriend
(Back"friend`) n. [Back, n. or adv. + friend.] A secret enemy. [Obs.] South.

Backgammon
(Back"gam`mon) n. [Origin unknown; perhaps fr. Dan. bakke tray + E. game; or very likely the first part is from E. back, adv., and the game is so called because the men are often set back.] A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a "board" marked off into twenty-four spaces called "points". Each player has fifteen pieces, or "men", the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables.

Backgammon board, a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two "tables".

Backgammon
(Back"gam`mon), v. t. In the game of backgammon, to beat by ending the game before the loser is clear of his first "table".

Background
(Back"ground`) n. [Back, a. + ground.]

1. Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front.