backhand

[ bak-hand ]

/ ˈbækˌhænd /

noun

a stroke, slap, etc., made with the palm of the hand turned toward the body and the back of the hand turned in the direction of the stroke, slap, etc.

(in tennis, squash, etc.) a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc.

handwriting that slopes toward the left.

adjective

backhanded.

(in tennis, squash, etc.) of, relating to, or noting a stroke made from the side of the body opposite to that of the hand holding the racket, paddle, etc. Compare forehand(def 1).

adverb

with the back of the hand: He hit him backhand across the face.

from across the body; backhanded: She returned the ball backhand on the first serve.

verb (used with object)

to strike with the back of the hand.

to hit, produce, or accomplish with a backhand.

to catch (a ball or the like) backhanded.

Origin of backhand

First recorded in 1650–60; back² + hand

Words nearby backhand

background music, background processing, background projection, background radiation, backgrounder, backhand, backhanded, backhander, backhaul, backhoe, backhouse

Example sentences from the Web for backhand

There are three full-time tennis aces on site who are more than happy to improve your backhand or perfect that serve.

Gal With a Suitcase |Jolie Hunt |February 20, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
But he was equal to the emergency, and, to make the disguise perfect, he gave to his writing the left hand or backhand stroke.

The Boy Broker |Frank A. Munsey
I would suggest that we go through the forehand and backhand strokes to make certain that we are right.

The Meadow-Brook Girls on the Tennis Courts |Janet Aldridge
He will want in London a fellow who, in the character of the Highland turnkey, held the backhand (p. 250) to him admirably well.

Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 6 |John Gibson Lockhart

Crosscourts: To be mixed in with your straight up and down strokes are the crosscourt forehand and backhand shots.

Squash Tennis |Richard C. Squires
One of the detectives took the woman by the arm; she jerked it loose and aimed a backhand slap at him.

Time Crime |H. Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for backhand

backhand

/ (ˈbækˌhænd) /

noun

sport

a stroke made across the body with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke
(as modifier)a backhand return

the side on which backhand strokes are made

handwriting slanting to the left

adverb

with a backhand stroke

verb (tr)

sport to play (a shot) backhand

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

backhand

noun

adjective

adverb

verb (used with object)

Origin of backhand

Words nearby backhand

Example sentences from the Web for backhand

British Dictionary definitions for backhand

noun

adverb

verb (tr)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

backhand

noun

adjective

adverb

verb (used with object)

Origin of backhand

Words nearby backhand

Example sentences from the Web for backhand

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for backhand

noun

adverb

verb (tr)

British Dictionary definitions for backhand