Bac

n. [Fr. bac, a ferry-boat, Arm. bag, bak, a bark, D. bak, tray, bowl.]

1. (Brewing & Distilling.) A large tub or vessel into which the wort, &c., is drawn for the purpose of cooling, straining, mixing, &c. It has different names, according to its position and use; as, under-back : jack-back : spirit-back : wash-back. Ure.
2. A broad, flat boat, for carrying carriages, cattle, &c., over ferries, by means of a rope stretched across.

n. [A-S. bæc, bac; Icel., Sw., & L. Ger. bak, Dan. bag, O. H. Ger. bacho, back, cheek. Cf. Sw. backe, hill.]

1. The upper or hinder part of an animal, from the neck to the loins.
2. A broad, high 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.
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.
5. The part opposite to or most remote from that which fronts the speaker or actor, or the part out of sight; as, the back of an isle, of a wood, of a village.
6. The thick and strong part of a cutting tool; as, the back of a knife, or of a saw.

v. t. [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 upon the back. [Rare.] Shak.
3. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid; as, the court was backed by the House of Commons.

Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with rewards and punishments. South.

4. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen.
5. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.

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. Blackstone.—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 prevent its coming home.—To back astern, in rowing, to manage the oars in a direction contrary to the usual method, so as to move a boat stern foremost.—To back the oars, to row backward with the oars.—To back the sails, to arrange them so as to take out the wind, and thus to cause the ship to move astern. Mar. Dict.—To back the field, in horse-racing, to bet against a particular horse or horses, that some one of all the other horses in the field will beat them.—To back out, or back down, to withdraw from an engagement or a contest.—To back up, to support, sustain, become responsible for; as, to back up one's friends.