abackEnglishOxford New American Dictionaryaback /əˈbak, əˈbæk / ▸ adverb 1 archaic toward or situated to the rear; back: the little strip of pasture aback of the house. 2 Sailing with the sail pressed backward against the mast by a headwind: Peter holds the jib aback until our bow swings across the wind. – PHRASES take someone aback shock or surprise someone: he was taken aback by the sharpness in her voice.– ORIGIN Old English on bæc (see a-2, back). The term came to be treated as a single word in nautical use.
EnglishOxford New American DictionaryEnglishOxford New American Dictionary
EnglishOxford New American Dictionary