1876. M. E. Braddon, Joshua Haggard's Daughter, ch. xx. Not in fetid alleys and festering London back-slums only is man's fight with difficulty a bitter and crushing battle.
(Australian thieves'.)—A back room or entrance.
Backstaircase, subs. (common).—A
bustle, or 'dress improver.'
For synonyms, see Birdcage.
Backstair Influence, subs. (familiar).—Underhand
dealing or
persuasion; a stab in the dark;
intrigue. [From the use of the
back or private stairs of a
palace, etc., for other than
state visitors; hence, a secret
mode of approach; and, attributively,
applied to indirect,
oblique, and unfair intrigue.]
1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, II. He is like a backstair minister at Court, who, while the reputed favourites are sauntering in the bed-chamber, is ruling the roast in the closet.
1877. Grenville Murray, Round about France, p. 77. These men are the most indefatigable retailers of backstairs small talk to the little fry of journalism.
Back-Stall, subs. (thieves').—An
accomplice who 'covers' the
actual thief; especially used
in relation to garrote-robberies,
in which the back-stall has
two functions, first to screen his
companion, and then, if necessary,
to 'make off' with the
booty.
Back Talk. No back talk! phr.
(common).—1. A slang catch-phrase
indicating that the
matter in question is closed to
discussion; 'there's nothing
more to be said.'
2. Underhand insinuation.
Back Teeth. To have one's back
teeth well afloat, phr.
(popular).—A facetiously brutal
way of implying that the subject
of such a remark is well
primed with liquor—even to
the verge of drunkenness.—See
Screwed.
1888. Missouri Republican, Jan. 25. When sober on the bench, Judge Noonan is a model of all the virtues. On Friday night, however, in company with Dr. Munford, of Kansas City, ex-Speaker Wood, Mr. Charles Mead and several other gentlemen, his honour once more drank until, as an onlooker put it, his back teeth were well afloat.
Back-Timber, subs. (old).—Clothes.
A humorous term which dates
back to the middle of the
seventeenth century. Other
slang equivalents are togs and
toggery; also war-paint in
the sense of fine or showy garb.
In French argot, alpague is used
synonymously.
b. 1574, d. 1656. Bp. Hall, Works V., 543. Was there ever more riot and excess in diet and clothes, in belly-cheer and back-timber, than we see at this day? [d.]
Back Tommy, subs. (tailors').—A
piece of cloth used to cover
the 'stays' at the waist.
Back-Track. To take the back-track,
phr. (American).—To
retreat from any assumed position;
to back out (q.v.).
Back Up, verb. (Winchester College).—To
call out. In 'College'
various times are called out by
Junior in 'Chambers,' such as
'Three quarters!' 'Hour!' 'Bells
go single!' 'Bells down!'
Back-Slang, subs. (street and
costermonger).—A species of
