6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
7. A support or resource in reserve.
This project
Should have a back or second, that might hold,
If this should blast in proof.
Shak.
8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal underground passage.
10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. [Obs.]
A bak to walken inne by daylight.
Chaucer.
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 or lie on one's back, to be helpless. — To put, or 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.
Back
(Back), a.
1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements.
2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
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.]
Back
(Back) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Backed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Backing.]
1. To get upon the back of; to mount.
I will back him [a horse] straight.
Shak.
2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed,
Appeared to me.
Shak.
3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.