Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), n. [AS. b[ae]c, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., &
   LG. bak, Dan. bag; cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn,
   OSlav. b[=e]g[u^] flight. Cf. {Bacon}.]
   1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending
      from the neck to the end of the spine; in other animals,
      that part of the body which corresponds most nearly to
      such part of a human being; as, the back of a horse, fish,
      or lobster.
      
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   2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
      
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            [The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave
            Into the clouds.                      --Milton.
      
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   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.
      
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            Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this,
            Gave me your hands, the backs and palms to kiss.
                                                  --Donne.
      
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   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
      back of a chimney.
      
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   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.
      
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   6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its
      edge; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.
      
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   7. A support or resource in reserve.
      
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            This project
            Should have a back or second, that might hold,
            If this should blast in proof.        --Shak.
      
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   8. (Naut.) The keel and keelson of a ship.
      
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   9. (Mining) The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a
      horizontal underground passage.
      
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   10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing. [Obs.]
       
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             A bak to walken inne by daylight.    --Chaucer.
       
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   {Behind ones 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 on ones back} or {To lie on ones back}, to be
      helpless.

   {To put ones back up} or {to get ones 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.
      
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Back \Back\, n. [F. bac: cf. Arm. bag, bak a bark, D. 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.
      
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   {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.
      
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   2. A ferryboat. See {Bac}, 1.
      
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Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Backed} (b[a^]kt); p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Backing}.]
   
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   1. To get upon the back of; to mount.
      
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            I will back him [a horse] straight.   --Shak.
      
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   2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]
      
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            Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed,
            Appeared to me.                       --Shak.
      
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   3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede;
      as, to back oxen.
      
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   4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back
      books.
      
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   5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
      
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            A garden . . . with a vineyard backed. --Shak.
      
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            The chalk cliffs which back the beach. --Huxley.
      
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   6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to
      indorse; as, to back a note or legal document.
      
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   7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or
      influence; as, to back a friend. "The Parliament would be
      backed by the people." --Macaulay.
      
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            Have still found it necessary to back and fortify
            their laws with rewards and punishments. --South.
      
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            The mate backed the captain manfully. --Blackw. Mag.
      
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   8. To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse.
      
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   {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 "the 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.
      
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Back \Back\, a.
   1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the
      back door; back settlements.
      
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   2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
      
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   3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action.
      
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   {Back blocks}, Australian pastoral country which is remote
      from the seacoast or from a river. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
      

   {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.]
      
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Back \Back\, v. i.
   1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
      
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   2. (Naut.) To change from one quarter to another by a course
      opposite to that of the sun; -- used of the wind.
      
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   3. (Sporting) To stand still behind another dog which has
      pointed; -- said of a dog. [Eng.]
      
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   {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.]
      
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            Cleon at first . . . was willing to go; but, finding
            that he [Nicias] was in earnest, he tried to back
            out.                                  --Jowett
                                                  (Thucyd. )
      
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Back \Back\, adv. [Shortened from aback.]
   1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step
      back.
      
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   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 back to one's native
      place; to put a book back after reading it.
      
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   3. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back
      to private life; to go back to barbarism.
      
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   4. (Of time) In times past; ago. "Sixty or seventy years
      back." --Gladstone.
      
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   5. Away from contact; by reverse movement.
      
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            The angel of the Lord . . . came, and rolled back
            the stone from the door.              --Matt.
                                                  xxviii. 2.
      
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   6. In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to
      keep back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to
      another.
      
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   7. In a state of restraint or hindrance.
      
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            The Lord hath kept thee back from honor. --Numb.
                                                  xxiv. 11.
      
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   8. In return, repayment, or requital.
      
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            What have I to give you back?         --Shak.
      
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   9. In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking;
      as, he took back the offensive words.
      
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   10. In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent. [Colloq.]
       
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   {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.]
      
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