backingn.
/ˈbakɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈbækɪŋ/ I. The action of back v. in various senses.attributive.1903 S. Clapin New Dict. Amer. 31 A backing and filling policy is one which is shilly-shally, trifling, irresolute.1949 Amer. Speech 24 172 Tickers slowed down and a series of backing and filling movements made the pattern for the day.
1. The action of supporting at the back.
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the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun]
holtc1375
fastnessa1382
maintenance1384
supportc1391
suppowell1399
supportationc1405
subministrationa1425
conforturec1475
stay1532
back-stand1548
supportance1576
backing1598
voice1600
supportment1607
supporture1609
seconding1613
manutenency?1630
the world > action or operation > easiness > aid, help, or assistance > support > [noun] > supporting
bearinga1387
maintaininga1387
sustaining1395
supportinga1450
underpropping1586
backing1598
upholding1605
through-bearing1656
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. v. 150 Call you that backing of your friends, a plague vpon such backing. View more context for this quotation
1633 W. Ames Fresh Suit against Human Ceremonies ii. 281 For the backinge of the former consequence, this reason was added.
1873 A. Helps Some Talk about Animals & their Masters v. 133 My ready backing of my friend.
2. The mounting of a horse; the breaking in of a colt to the saddle.
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society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [noun] > mounting a horse
onleaping1488
backing1607
mounting1816
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [noun] > keeper or manager > horse-breaking or -training
managea1586
managery1685
school1705
schooling1753
manège1768
backing1783
lunging1833
horse-taming1836
dressage1912
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 307 It is good to vse your horsse to backing, both sadled and bare.
1783 Ainsworth's Thes. Linguæ Latinæ (new ed.) The backing of a horse, equi domitura.
3. The action of putting or moving back; a throwing back in progress; retardation.
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the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [noun] > hindering or retarding
retardationc1437
tardation1568
delay1570
retarding1585
detention1589
forslowing1611
remore1627
retardment1640
tardidation1647
backing1649
retardure1751
demurrage1817
delayal1834
delaying action1872
heel-tapping?1883
1649 W. Blith Eng. Improver ii. 14 A great part of that Land lieth as it were drowned..it overcomes not that backing many times till neare Midsummer.
4. Motion in a backward direction, esp. of the wind in a direction opposed to the sun's. backing and filling (see back v. 16b). U.S.
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the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > wind with reference to direction > change of direction > specific
scant1595
veering1611
backing1686
westing1834
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > [noun] > movement back and forth
course and recourse1461
backing and filling1777
come-and-go1794
to and fro1847
toing and froing1847
va-et-vient1919
the world > the earth > water > body of water > [noun] > accumulation of water behind barrier > forming a head
heading up1873
backing1884
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. i. 25 Who foretold them by the Winds backing to the Sun..i.e. opposing its course.
1777 in Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. (1906) XLII. 315 He was then order'd..to Stillwarter, then ordered from Stillwarter to Benington... This in the Salers Frase is Backing & filling, makes but poor way a head.
1854 N.Y. Herald 15 June There has been so much backing and filling, not only upon the Cuban question, but upon every other.
1869 R. Semmes Mem. Service Afloat 255 The reader need no longer wonder at the backing and filling of the Iroquois around the little Sumter.
1874 F. G. D. Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. iv. 75 From West to South-West, South, and South-East, the change is called backing.
1884 Ingersoll in Harper's Mag. 876/2 Rivers would be able to dispose of their water in the full season without its backing up.
5. technical.
a. Printing. ‘Perfecting’ a sheet already printed on one side, by printing it on the other.
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society > communication > printing > manner or style of printing > [noun] > printing on second side
reiteration1683
reteration1683
backing1846
perfecting1951
1846 Printing Appar. Amateurs 42 When a second impression was added at the back, which is called backing, or working the reiteration.
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b. Bookbinding. Preparing the back of a book with glue, etc. before putting on the cover.
6.
a. backing-down: withdrawal, shirking.
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the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun]
reversec1487
retraction1536
relent1580
declension1597
relentance1629
resentment1646
intercision1647
relenting1694
back-down1862
backing-down1883
back-pedalling1950
step-down1973
1883 Harper's Mag. Aug. 465/1 There's to be no backing down.
b. backing-off: unwinding silk or cotton.
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the world > space > shape > curvature > coil > uncoiling or unwinding > [noun]
unwinding1648
backing-off1839
uncoiling1839
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 369 It is necessary to turn the rim beforehand a little in the opposite direction..an operation called in technical language, the backing off.
1851 L. D. B. Gordon in Art Jrnl. Illustr. Catal. vi. **/2 This operation of undoing the coil is called the backing-off.
c. backing-up in Cricket, etc.: see back v. 8. Also in other games.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > other batting actions
backing-up1816
slip1833
wrist-play1851
leg before1867
follow-through1891
gardening1897
wrist-work1898
whip1903
back-lift1912
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > fielding > [noun] > running behind another fielder
backing-up1816
1816 W. Lambert Instr. & Rules Cricket 39 Getting behind the Wicket-keeper, when the Ball is thrown in, which is called backing up.
1836 New Sporting Mag. Oct. 360 By backing up too far, he ran himself out.
1960 Times 14 Nov. 4/1 The age-old principle of backing-up..was once more the basic strength of the whole [Rugby football] team.
d. backing-out (see back v. 18). Also attributive.
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the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > reversal of or forsaking one's will or purpose > [noun] > withdrawal from an engagement or promise
retraction1550
resiling1644
retractation1654
resilience1656
backing-out1819
pull-out1825
back-out1829
resilement1830
1819 Cartwright in Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 22 May col. 1112 The Duke saw his reasons for what Mr. Cobbett calls ‘backing out’.
1841 Knickerbocker 17 374 Nor would her offended dignity be appeased by the self-imposed immolations of backing-out.
1846 S. F. Smith Theatr. Apprenticeship 149 I don't come from a backing out country—I must have a showing for the money that's down.
1880 A. W. Tourgée Invis. Empire v. 413 In explanation of the backing-out process, he says it consisted simply in not going to any more meetings.
II. Collective term for that which backs, or forms a back, rear, or hinder part.
7.
a. Support, succour; a body of supporters.
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1817 W. Scott Rob Roy I. viii. 181 A quarter whence assuredly he expected no backing.
1880 Times 11 Dec. 9 It is promoted by what appears to be a solid backing of landowners.
b. Musical or vocal accompaniment to a singer, esp. on a recording.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [noun] > accompaniment
accompaniment1697
obbligato1825
Alberti bass1845
vamp1882
backing1940
comp1946
comping1949
1940 Swing Jan. 24/3 Everyone..seems happy in the rowdy backing, which gives plenty of punch to a good old barroom song.
1940 Swing June 17 The backing is based on a riff that's been used for several other numbers lately.
1959 Punch 19 Aug. 60/2 Mr. B. finds the backing tedious and professes indifference to the singer's charms.
8.
a. Anything used to form a back, or line the back.
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the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > surface > [noun] > rear surface > that which forms
foil1684
backing1793
back-up1949
1793 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse (ed. 2) §221 Not only flat backing, but Purbeck ashler in rough courses, from those quarries.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Backing, the timber behind the armour-plates of a ship.
1880 L. Higgin Handbk. Embroidery iv. 35 Silk, satin, or velvet..must be backed with a fine cotton or linen lining. The ‘backing’..is first framed.
1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer (ed. 2) I. 219 A great pier-glass was cracked..and the metallic backing seemed to be scaling off.
1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio 241 Backing, the base on which the magnetic oxide coating of tape is carried.
1963 Which? Mar. 691 Carpets usually have a backing and a pile. The backing is woven, and consists of a set of warp threads (usually cotton) and a set of weft threads (usually jute).
1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage i. 20 (caption) Padded by slitting the backing and inserting cotton wool.
b. Photography (a) (See back v. 2b); (b) backing paper, a strip of opaque paper on which the celluloid film in a roll-film is mounted.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > plates and films > [noun] > film > backing paper
backing paper1937
1937 S. G. B. Stubbs Mod. Encycl. Photogr. I. 26/1 The beginning of the film, and the gummed paper holding it to the black side of the ‘backing-paper’ is clearly seen in the illustration.
1958 Newnes Compl. Amateur Photogr. iv. 55 35 mm. film is without a backing paper with numbers on it which can be viewed through a red window.
c. Scenery placed behind a door, window or other opening in a stage or film set.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > a theatre > theatrical equipment or accessories > [noun] > scenery > pieces of
side shutter1634
drop1781
flat1795
back-scene1818
border1824
profile1824
act drop1829
set piece1859
profiling1861
profile wing1873
backing1889
profile piece1896
revolve1900
construction1924
wood-wing1933
cutout1949
1889 in Cent. Dict.
1937 N. Coward Present Indicative ii. 102 Backings and flats..waiting about untidily to be set in Act One.
1952 W. Granville Dict. Theatr. Terms 20 Window backings are often part of the general back-cloth picture of the landscape.
9. = back n.1 16.
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society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > framework of building > [noun] > roof-beam > edge of
back1679
backing1823
1823 P. Nicholson New Pract. Builder 225 The Backing of a Hip is the angle made on its upper edge to range with the two sides or planes of the roof between which it is placed.
10. (dialect) Bank, embankment.
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the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > ridge > [noun] > ridge of earth
benchc1250
rindc1440
bink1568
ledge1658
ridgelet1774
ridget1791
backing1863
soil stripe1910
1863 Lancashire Fents 3 A pretty weaver lass..seated herself on the ‘backing.’
1865 B. Brierley Irkdale I. 136 A younger person stands upon the garden ‘backing.’
11. backings n. refuse of wool or flax, or what is left after dressing it; in the manufacture of flax, ‘properly the tow, that is thrown off by a second hackling’ (Jamieson). Also in form backens. Scottish.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > treated or processed textiles > [noun] > wool > refuse
noils1623
pinions1670
backings1780
pluck1825
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > treated or processed textiles > [noun] > flax, hemp, or jute > heckled > coarse parts
hurdseOE
oakumeOE
tow1530
flax-hurd1614
tow hards1615
codilla1748
backings1780
swingling-tow1828
1780 A. Young Tour Ireland 101 8 lb. flax for coarse linen; and 4 lb. of dressed tow, and some for backens.
1780 A. Young Tour Ireland 195 The remainder is called backings, and is spun into the coarsest stuff.
1785 Ann. Reg. 1783 Useful Projects 84/1 An Account of Cloth made from the Refuse of Flax, and Backings of Tow.
c1795 Aberd. Statist. Acc. XIX. 207 (Jam.) The waft was spun by old women, and that only from backings or nails.
12. Scottish and U.S. (The act of writing) the address of a letter. Cf. back v. 12b.
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society > communication > correspondence > sending items > [noun] > addressing letter
direction1524
backing1833
1833 Chambers' Edinb. Jrnl. 4 May 112/1 The same rule applies to the backing of the letter.
1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xiv. 104 It was not the mere writing that dismayed him, it was the composition..and the ‘backin'’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
backingadj.
/ˈbakɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈbækɪŋ/ That backs, or moves backward.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > backward movement > [adjective] > moving backwards
retrograde1564
apostatical1620
retrogressive1755
backing1862
retreative1898
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > sheepdog > [adjective] > having particular skills
strong-eyed1686
backing1934
1862 G. W. Thornbury Life J. M. W. Turner I. 268 In the foreground Turner has put a backing waggon with kicking horses.
1907 Macmillan's Mag. July 671 A small sandy bay on the left bank, where a backing eddy ran.
1934 J. Lilico Sheep Dog Mem. 26 The finest backing dogs I have ever seen are in the saleyards at Addington.
1945 S. J. Baker Austral. Lang. iii. 73 A dog trained to run across the backs of sheep when they are yarded is called a backing dog.
1966 Melody Maker 23 July 10/4 The backing group on Nina Simone's recording of ‘Pastel Blues’.
Draft additions June 2007
In a musical performance: designating a musician or singer who provides the backing to the principal singer or musicians; (also) designating the singing or (esp. prerecorded) music which provides this. Cf. backing n. 7b.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > piece of music > section of piece of music > [adjective] > accompaniment
accompanimental1874
vamped1874
backing1964
1964 Times 2 Dec. 7/1 Adam Faith's backing group, The Roulettes.
1967 New Musical Express 30 Sept. 11/2 We feel like we're cheating with backing tracks and maybe this comes over on the screen. The boys are musicians they want to show they can play.
1972 Times 15 Jan. 9/6 The brass soars and plunges, the backing singers still burble delightful Motown words like ‘poop-poop-poop-poop’.
1988 R. Doyle Commitments (1991) 34 The three backing vocalists, The Commitmentettes, listened to The Supremes,..and The Shangri-las.
1992 Vibe Fall (Preview Issue) 31/2 Imagine the diabolical Biz Markie..with '70s funksters Mandrill for a backing band.
2001 Big Issue 27 Dec. 19/3 He would no doubt have been delighted by his old bandmates adding some backing vocals and putting it out as the first ‘new’ Beatles Song since 1970.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
> as lemmas
backing
backing n. often concrete = the coating applied to the plate.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > chemicals > [noun] > coating or backing
film1840
backing1846
colour film1862
coating1892
1846 G. Dodd Brit. Manuf. 6th Ser. iv. 89 In the process of ‘backing’,..the book is laid on a bench,..and hammered near the back edge, with such a peculiar movement of the left hand as causes the back to become rounded while the hammering proceeds.
1901 D. Cockerell Bookbinding 118 Rounding and backing are best done after the glue has ceased to be tacky.
1906 R. C. Bayley Compl. Photographer 95 A thick coat of backing is quite unnecessary.
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n.1598
adj.1862as lemmas