back-handed, a.
(ˈbækˌhændɪd)
[f. prec. n.]
1. With the back of the hand.
| 1813 L. Hunt in Examiner 15 Mar. 162/1 A back-handed pat on the cheek. 1836 Macready Remin. II. 23 A back-handed slap across the face. |
2. Directed backwards, or with the hand or arm crossing the body (i.e. for a right-handed man from left to right), as a sword-cut; sloping backwards, as handwriting. Also as adv.
| 1889 H. W. W. Wilberforce Lawn Tennis 29 It is much more difficult to volley a high lob backhanded than forehanded. 1890 L. Dod in C. G. Heathcote Tennis 310, I believe myself in changing the grip of one's racket, both for fore- and back-handed strokes. 1898 The ‘House’ on Sport I. 222 The first great step in this direction [of improving polo] was the introduction of the back-handed stroke. 1922 A. E. Crawley Lawn Tennis Do's & Don'ts 27 The receiver is in doubt whether to play it forehanded or back⁓handed. 1934 A. Christie Murder on Orient Express i. vii. 63 One would have to strike backhanded. |
3. fig. † a. Keeping back one's hand, backward, remiss; b. Indirect, like a back-handed sword-cut.
| 1800 Deb. Congress (1851) 832/2 In a back-handed way and not in the fair regular manner. 1817 Godwin Mandeville II. 180 (D.) Modesty..is often the most beggarly and back-handed friend that merit can have. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxvi, Rob might get a back-handed lick at him. 1865 Dickens Mut. Fr. xii, Having given her this back-handed reminder. |
Hence back-ˈhandedly adv., in an indirect or back-handed manner; backˈhandedness.
| 1859 in Worcester. 1889 Cent. Dict., Backhandedly, with the hand directed backward: as, to strike back-handedly. 1957 K. A. Wittfogel Oriental Despotism ix. 386 He backhandedly admitted that his statement did not include the ‘barbarian’ world of Oriental despotism. |