Back formation
the analogical creation of one word from another word that appears to be a derived or inflected form of the first by dropping the apparent affix or by modification.
a word so formed, as typewrite from typewriter.
Historical Examples
In any event, the men should be taught to take some form of a closed back to back formation.
Manual of Military Training James A. Moss
noun
the invention of a new word on the assumption that a familiar word is derived from it. The verbs edit and burgle were so created from editor and burglar
a word formed by this process
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noun (soccer) the defensive players in many modern team formations: usually two fullbacks and two centre backs
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a game for two persons played on a board having two tables or parts, each marked with 12 points, and with both players having 15 pieces that are moved in accordance with throws of the dice. a victory at this game, especially one resulting in a tripled score. to defeat at backgammon, especially to win […]
- Back gear
(in a lathe) one of several gears for driving the headstock at various speeds. Historical Examples Referring again to Fig. 494, g′ is the pinion to drive the back gear while g receives motion from the back-gear pinion. Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II Joshua Rose Various methods of moving the back gear into […]
- Back green
noun (Central Scot, dialect) grass or a garden at the back of a house, esp a tenement Historical Examples Crown and back green, and tail rusty tipped with dusky, no notch in tail-feathers; in other respects like No. 433. Color Key to North American Birds Frank M. Chapman The window looked out on the back […]
- Background music
music, often recorded, intended to provide a soothing background, usually played over loudspeaker systems in public places, as railway stations or restaurants. music composed specifically to accompany and heighten the mood of a visual production, as a movie. Contemporary Examples Yorke and Godrich know how to make all this fiddling about sound pretty good, even […]