Chapter 11

3. A person who has taken the first or lowest degree in the liberal arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university; as, a bachelorÿof arts. 4. A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the standard of another in the field; often, a young knight. 5. In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear the livery; a junior member. [Obs.] 6. (Zo”l.) A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (Pomoxys annularis) of the southern United States. Bach¶eÏlorÏdom (?), n. The state of bachelorhood; the whole body of bachelors. Bach¶eÏlorÏhood (?), n. The state or condition of being a bachelor; bachelorship. Bach¶eÏlorÏism (?), n. Bachelorhood; also, a manner or peculiarity belonging to bachelors. W.Irving. Bach¶eÏlor's but¶ton (?), (Bot.) A plant with flowers shaped like buttons; especially, several species of Ranunculus, and the cornflower (ÿCentaures cyanus) and globe amaranth (Gomphrena). µ Bachelor's buttons, a name given to several flowers ½from their similitude to the jagged cloathe buttons, anciently worne in this kingdom¸, according to Johnson's Gerarde, p.472(1633); but by other writers ascribed to " a habit of country fellows to carry them in their pockets to divine their success with their sweethearts.¸ Dr.Prior. Bach¶eÏlorÏship , n. The state of being a bachelor. Bach¶elÏry (?), n. [OF. bachelerie.] The body of young aspirants for knighthood. [Obs.] Chaucer. BaÏcil¶lar (?), a. [L. bacillum little staff.] (Biol.) Shaped like a rod or staff. ØBac¶ilÏla·riÏ‘ (?), n. pl. [ NL., fr.L. bacillum, dim. of baculum stick.] (Biol.) See ÿDiatom. Bac¶ilÏlaÏry (?), a. Of or pertaining to little rods; rod-shaped. BaÏcil¶liÏform (?), a. [L. bacillum little staff + Ïform.] Rod-shaped. BaÏcil¶lus (?), n.; pl. Bacilli (?). [NL., for L. bacillum. See Bacillarle.] (Biol.) A variety of bacterium; a microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable organism. Back (?), n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. 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. 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. 2. A ferryboat. See Bac, 1 Back (?), n. [As b‘c, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn, OSlav. b?g? flight. Cf. Bacon.] 1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the neck to the end o the spine; in other animals, that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the ÿback of a horse, fish, or lobster. 2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge. [The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave Into the clouds. Milton. 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. Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this, Gave me your hands, the ÿbacksÿand palms to kiss. Donne. 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 ÿback of a chimney. 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. 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. 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, 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.ÿ- 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 ÿman. - Back stairs, stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs. Also used adjectively. See ÿBack 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 (?), v.i.ÿ[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. 5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of. A garden ... with a vineyard backed. Shak. The chalk cliffs which back the beach. Huxley. 6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document. 7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to backÿ a friend. ½Parliament would be backed by the people.¸ Macaulay. Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with rewards and punishments. South. The mate backed the captain manfully. Blackw. Mag. 8. To bet on the success of; - as, to back a race horse. 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 ½the 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.} Back, v.i. 1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back. 2. (Naut.) To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to that of the sun; - used of the wind. 3. (Sporting) To stand still behind another dog which has pomted; - said of a dog. [Eng.] 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.] Cleon at first ... was willing to go; but, finding that he [Nicias] was in earnest, he tried to ÿback out. Jowett (Thucyd.) Back, adv. [Shortened from aback.] 1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step ÿback. 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 ÿback to one's native place; to put a book back after reading it. 3. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to private life; to go back to barbarism. 4. ( Of time) In times past; ago. ½Sixty or seventy years back.¸ Gladstone. 5. Away from contact; by reverse movement. The angel of the Lord ... came, and rolled back the stone from the door. Matt. xxvii.2. 6. In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep ÿback the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another. 7. In a state of restraint or hindrance. The Lord hath kept thee back from honor. Numb. xxiv.11. 8. In return, repayment, or requital. What have I to give you ÿback! Shak. 9. In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he took back0 the offensive words. 10. In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent. [Colloq.] 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.] Bac¶aÏrack (?), n. See Bacharach. BacÏka¶re (?), interj. Same as Baccare. Back¶band· (?),n. [2nd backÿ, n. + band.] (Saddlery) The band which passes over the back of a horse and holds up the shafts of a carriage. Back¶bite·, v.i. [2nd back, n., + bite] To wound by clandestine detraction; to censure meanly or spitefully (as absent person); to slander or speak evil of (one absent). Spenser. Back¶bite·, v.i. To censure or revile the absent. They are arrant knaves, and will ÿbackbite. Shak. Back¶bit·er (?), n. One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor. Back¶bit·ing (?), n. Secret slander; detraction. Backbiting, and bearing of false witness. Piers Plowman. Back¶board· (?), n. [2nd ÿbackÿ,n. + board.] 1. A board which supports the back wen one is sitting; specifically, the board athwart the after part of a boat. 2. A board serving as the back part of anything, as of a wagon. 3. A thin stuff used for the backs of framed pictures, mirrors, etc. 4. A board attached to the rim of a water wheel to prevent the water from running off the floats or paddies into the interior of the wheel. W.Nicholson. 5. A board worn across the back to give erectness to the figure. Thackeray. Back¶bond· (?), n. [Back, adv. + ÿbond.] (Scots Law) An instrument which, in conjunction with another making an absolute disposition, constitutes a trust. Back¶bone¶, n. [2d back, n. + bone.ÿ] 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 ÿbackbone. Shairp. To the backbone, through and through; thoroughly; entirely. ½Staunch to ÿthe backbone.¸ Lord Lytton. Back¶boned¶ (?), a. Vertebrate. Back¶cast· (?), n. [ Back, adv.+ ÿcast.] Anything which brings misfortune upon one, or causes failure in an effort or enterprise; a reverse. [Scot.] Back¶ door¶ (?). A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way. Atterbury. Back¶door¶, a. Acting from behind and in concealment; as backdoor intrigues. Back¶down· (?), n. A receding or giving up; a complete surrender. [Colloq.] Backed (?), a. Having a back; fitted with a back; as, a backed electrotype or stereotype plate. Used in composition; as, broad-ÿbacked; hump-backed. Back¶er (?), n. One who, or that which, backs; especially one who backs a person or thing in a contest. Back¶fall· (?), n. [2nd back ,n. + fall] A fall or throw on the back in wrestling. Back¶friend· (?), n. [Back, n. or adv. + friend] A secret enemy. [Obs.] South. Back¶gam·mon (?), n. [ Origin unknown; perhaps fr.Dan. bakke tray + E.ÿgame; 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 ½board¸ marked off into twenty-four spaces called ½points¸. Each player has fifteen pieces, or ½men¸, the movements of which from point to point are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called ÿtables. Backgammon board , a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two ½tables¸. Back¶gam·mon, v.i. In the game of backgammon, to beat by ending the game before the loser is clear of his first ½table¸. Back¶ground· (?), n. [ÿBack, a. + ground.] 1. Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to the foreground, or the ground in front. 2. (Paint.) The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or group of figures. µ The distance in a picture is usually divided into foreground, middle distance, and background. Fairholt. 3. Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a background of red hangings. 4. A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight. I fancy there was a background of grinding and waiting before Miss Torry could produce this highly finished ... performance. Mrs.Alexander. A husband somewhere in the background. Thackeray. Back¶hand· (?), n. [Back, adv. + ÿhand.] A kind of handwriting in which the downward slope of the letters is from left to right. Back¶hand·, a. 1. Sloping from left to right; - said of handwriting. 2. Backhanded; indirect; oblique. [R.] Back¶hand·ed, a. 1. With the hand turned backward; as, a ÿbackhanded blow. 2. Indirect; awkward; insincere; sarcastic; as, a ÿbackhandedÿ compliment. 3.Turned back, or inclining to the left; as, a backhanded letters. Back¶hand·edÏness, n. State of being backhanded; the using of backhanded or indirect methods. Back¶hand·er (?), n. A backhanded blow. Back¶house· (?), n. [ÿBack, a. + house.] A building behind the main building. Specifically: A privy; a necessary. Back¶ing, n. 1. The act of moving backward, or of putting or moving anything backward. 2. That which is behind, and forms the back of, anything, usually giving strength or stability. 3. Support or aid given to a person or cause. 4. (Bookbinding) The preparation of the back of a book with glue, etc., before putting on the cover. Back¶joint· (?), n. [Backÿ, a. or adv. + joint.] (a) A rebate or chase in masonry left to receive a permanent slab or other filling. Back¶lash· (?), n. [ÿBackÿ, adv. + lash.] (Mech.) The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion. Back¶less, a. Without a back. Back¶log·(?), n. [ÿBack, a. + log.] A large stick of wood, forming the of a fire on the hearth. [U.S.] There was first a backlog, from fifteen to four and twenty inches in diameter and five feet long, imbedded in the ashes. S.G. Goodrich. Back¶piece· (?), Back¶plate· (?),} n. [ÿBack, n. or a. + ÿpiece, plate.ÿ] A piece, or plate which forms the back of anything, or which covers the back; armor for the back.

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