Back stairs

Back stairs
Back Back, a. 1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements. [1913 Webster]

2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent. [1913 Webster]

3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action. [1913 Webster]

{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.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • back|stairs — back stairs, 1. airs in the back part of a house, used especially for deliveries or by servants. 2. Figurative. a private, secret, or underhanded method or course. back|stairs «BAK STAYRZ», adjective. 1. secret and underhanded: »... backstairs… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Back stairs — Backstairs Back stairs , Back stairs Back stairs (b[a^]k st[^a]rz ) n. Stairs in the back part of a house, as distinguished from the {front stairs}; a second staircase at the rear of a building; hence, a private or indirect way. [1913 Webster +… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • back stairs — 1. stairs at the back of a house, as for use by servants. 2. a means of intrigue. [1620 30] * * * back stairs, 1. airs in the back part of a house, used especially for deliveries or by servants. 2. Figurative. a private, secret, or underhanded… …   Useful english dictionary

  • back stairs — Synonyms and related words: back door, back road, back street, back way, bolt hole, by lane, bypass, bypath, byroad, bystreet, byway, companion, companionway, covert way, detour, escalier, escalier derobe, escape hatch, escape route, fire escape …   Moby Thesaurus

  • back stairs — steps located in the back of a room or building; secondary set of stairs (not the main stairs) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • back stairs — 1. stairs at the back of a house, as for use by servants. 2. a means of intrigue. [1620 30] * * * …   Universalium

  • back·stairs — /ˈbækˌsteɚz/ adj, always used before a noun chiefly Brit informal : done in a secret and usually improper way a backstairs deal …   Useful english dictionary

  • Back — Back, a. 1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements. [1913 Webster] 2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent. [1913 Webster] 3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action. [1913 Webster] {Back… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Back blocks — Back Back, a. 1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements. [1913 Webster] 2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent. [1913 Webster] 3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Back charges — Back Back, a. 1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back door; back settlements. [1913 Webster] 2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent. [1913 Webster] 3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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