backstroke
English edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
backstroke (plural backstrokes)
- A backhanded stroke or blow.
- 1755, Miguel de Cervantes, translated by Tobias Smollett, Don Quixote, Volume 1, I.1:
- He observed that Cid Ruy-dias was an excellent knight; but not equal to the Lord of the Flaming-sword, who with one back-stroke [translating revés] had cut two fierce and monstrous giants through the middle.
- (swimming) A stroke swum lying on one's back, while rotating both arms through the water as to propel the swimmer backwards.
- (bellringing) The pull on the tail of the rope that swings the bell through a full circle (compare handstroke)
Synonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
- breaststroke
- butterfly stroke
- sidestroke
Translations edit
a swimming stroke swum on one's back
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Verb edit
backstroke (third-person singular simple present backstrokes, present participle backstroking, simple past and past participle backstroked)
- To swim the backstroke.
Translations edit
to swim backstroke
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