Definition of Aback

Babylon English
aback
adv. backwards, to the rear; with the wind blowing against the front of the sails (Nautical)

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Aback definition was found in categories: Language, Idioms & Slang(6)  Sports(1)  

Aback Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Aback
(n.)
An abacus.
  
(adv.)
Toward the back or rear; backward.
  
(adv.)
Behind; in the rear.
  
(adv.)
Backward against the mast; -- said of the sails when pressed by the wind.
  

WordNet 2.0
aback

Adverb
1. having the wind against the forward side of the sails; "the ship came up into the wind with all yards aback"
2. by surprise; "taken aback by the caustic remarks"

The Phrase Finder
Taken aback
Meaning
Surprised.
Origin
When the wind changes direction the sails of a sailing ship sometimes blow back against the mast, i.e. they are taken aback.

GLOSSARY OF ESOTERIC WORDS
aback
if you are taken aback,you are surprised and or shocked.eg.I was abit taken aback by his sudden reversal

hEnglish - advanced version
aback

aback
abacist \ab"a*cist\ (ăb"&adot;*s&ibreve;st), n. [ll abacista, fr. abacus.] one who uses an abacus in casting accounts; a calculator.


  similar words(2) 




 take aback 
 to be taken aback 

Concise English-Irish Dictionary v. 1.1
aback
baineadh siar as


Aback Definition from Sports Dictionaries & Glossaries

maritime&shipping&trade
ABACK
A sail is aback when its forward surface is acted upon by the wind.