EnglishEdit
Etymology 1Edit
Alteration of back-ganging (noun), equivalent to back + ganging.
Alternative formsEdit
- backgaun, back-gang, back-gannin
- backgane (Scotland)
NounEdit
backgain (plural backgains)
- (UK dialectal) A relapse.
- (UK dialectal) A decline; consumption.
- (UK dialectal) A relapse in illness.
Etymology 2Edit
Alteration of back-ganging (adjective), equivalent to back + ganging.
Alternative formsEdit
- back-ga'en, back-gaen
AdjectiveEdit
backgain (comparative more backgain, superlative most backgain)
- (UK dialectal) Receding; going back.
- (UK dialectal, of persons) Not thriving in health or in worldly concerns.
- a backgain family