Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BACK'BITE, v.t. [back and bite.]

To censure, slander, reproach, or speak evil of the absent. – Prov. xxv.

BACK'BIT-ER, n.

One who slanders, calumniates, or speaks ill of the absent.

BACK'BIT-ING, n.

The act of slandering the absent; secret calumny. – 2 Cor. xii.

BACK'BIT-ING-LY, adv.

With secret slander. – Barret.

BACK'BOARD, n. [back and board.]

A board placed across the after part of a boat.

BACK-BONE, n. [back and bone.]

The bone of the back; or the spine.

BACK'CAR-RY, n.

A having on the back; a term of law.

BACK-DOOR, n. [back and door.]

A door on the back part of a building; a private passage; an indirect way.

BACK'ED, a.

Having a back; a word used in composition; as, broad-backed, hump-backed.

BACK'ED, pp.

Mounted; having on the back; supported by aid; seconded; moved backward.

BACK'FRIEND, n. [back and friend.]

A secret enemy. – South.

BACK-GAM'MON, n. [W. bac, small, and cammaun, conflict, battle; camp, a game.]

A game played by two persons, upon a table, with box and dice. The table is in two parts, on which are 24 black and white spaces, called points. Each player has 15 men of different colors for the purpose of distinction. – Encyc.

BACK'GROUND, n. [back and ground.]

1. Ground in the rear or behind, as opposed to the front.
2. A place of obscurity, or shade; a situation little seen, or noticed.

BACK'HAND-ED, a. [back and hand.]

With the hand turned backward; as, a backhanded blow.

BACK'HAND-ED, adv.

With the hand directed backward, as, to strike backhanded.

BACK'HOUSE, n. [back and house.]

A building behind the main or front building.

BACK'ING, ppr.

Mounting; moving back, as a horse; seconding.

BACK'PAINT-ING, n. [back and paint.]

The method of painting mezzotinto prints, pasted on glass of a size to fit the print. – Encyc.

BACK'PIECE, n. [back and piece.]

The piece of armor which covers the back.

BACK'RE-TURN, n.

Repeated return. – Shak.

BACK'ROOM, n. [back and room.]

A room behind the front room, or in the back part of the house.

BACKS, n.

Among dealers in leather, the thickest and best tanned hides. – Encyc.

BACK'SET, a. [back and set.]

Set upon in the rear. – Anderson.

BACK'SIDE, n. [back and side.]

1. The back part of any thing; the part behind that which is presented to the face of a spectator. – Ex. iii.
2. The hind part of an animal.
3. The yard, ground or place behind a house.

BACK'SLIDE, v.i. [back and slide.]

To fall off; to apostatize; to turn gradually from the faith and practice of Christianity. – Jer. iii. Hos. iv.