hark-back

See also: hark back

English

Etymology

Deverbal from hark back.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈhɑːkbæk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhɑɹkˌbæk/

Noun

hark-back (plural hark-backs)

1. (hunting) An act of hounds retracing a course in order to pick up the lost scent of prey.
2. (figuratively) An act of alluding, returning, or reverting (to a subject previously mentioned, etc.); also, an act of evoking, or longing or pining for (a past era or event).

   Synonym: callback

   • 1961 June, “Talking of Trains: Early Timetables – but at a Price”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 325:

     The addendum cancelling the closures refers to 14 pages […] in which Table 183 is reproduced in its old form with connections to and from Liverpool, Bradford, York, Edinburgh etc. – a hark-back to G.C. ambitions.

Alternative forms

• hark back