Back

See also: back, bäck, and back-

English

Proper noun

Back

1. A surname.
2. A settlement on the Isle of Lewis, Western Isles council area, Scotland (OS grid ref NB4840).

Derived terms

• backite

German

Etymology 1

From Middle Low German bak (“bowl, box, chest”), from Middle Dutch bak (modern Dutch bak), from Old French bac (“large bowl”). Related with Becken, but unrelated with Backbord.

The sense “dining table” is due to the fact that several sailors would eat from one bowl, so the word Back came to be used for the entire area that they shared. The sense “forecastle” might be a further generalisation because it is this part of the ship where the sailors ate and slept. Otherwise it could be derived from the sense “box, chest”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bak/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ak
• Homophones: back, Bug (“computer bug”)

Noun

Back f (genitive Back, plural Backen)

1. (nautical) forecastle (raised part of the upper deck)
2. (nautical) a large wooden bowl in which the meal is served
3. (nautical) a dining table used by the crew of a ship, often foldable

Declension

Declension of Back [feminine]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	eine	die	Back	die	Backen
genitive	einer	der	Back	der	Backen
dative	einer	der	Back	den	Backen
accusative	eine	die	Back	die	Backen

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English back. Doublet of Bache.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɛk/
• Homophones: Beck, -beck

Noun

Back m (strong, genitive Backs, plural Backs)

1. (Switzerland, otherwise obsolete, soccer) defender; back

   Synonyms: Abwehrspieler, Verteidiger

Declension

Declension of Back [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Back	die	Backs
genitive	eines	des	Backs	der	Backs
dative	einem	dem	Back	den	Backs
accusative	einen	den	Back	die	Backs

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bak/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ak
• Homophones: back, Bug (“computer bug”)

Proper noun

Back m or f (proper noun, surname, masculine genitive Backs or (with an article) Back, feminine genitive Back, plural Backs)

1. a surname

Declension

Declension of Back [masculine // feminine, surname]

	singular						plural
	masculine			feminine
	indef.	def.	noun	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	(ein)	(der)	Back	(eine)	(die)	Back	(die)	Backs
genitive	(eines)	(des)	Backs, Back1	(einer)	(der)	Back	(der)	Backs
dative	(einem)	(dem)	Back	(einer)	(der)	Back	(den)	Backs
accusative	(einen)	(den)	Back	(eine)	(die)	Back	(die)	Backs

¹With an article.

Further reading

• Back on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de
• “Back” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Back (Schüssel, Esstisch)” in Duden online
• “Back (Verteidiger im Fußball)” in Duden online