backhander

B3A1C3K5H4A1N1D2E1R1

noun

A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.

RareScrabble 22

Meanings

nounbackhander (plural backhanders)

plural backhanders

  1. A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.
  2. A blow with the back of the hand; a blow delivered with a swing of the arm across the chest.

    I thought he would have given me a backhander with his jelly spoon[.]

    1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 151
  3. informalA bribe, a secret payment.
  4. ball gamesA shot played backhand, a backhand stroke.
  5. ball gamesA player who plays a backhand shot.

    She's a terrific backhander.

  6. hobbiesA surfer who approaches a swell with the wave behind them ("on their backhand") rather than facing the wave ("on their forehand").

    The morning brought an increased swell; long, perfect, down-the-line, 6-8' freight trains — a forehander's dream and a backhander's nightmare

    1990, Surfer - Volume 31, Issues 7-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

Translations

Czech všimné
  • všimnéshot played backhand, a backhand stroke
Finnish rystylyönti, lahjus
  • rystylyöntiblow with the back of the hand
  • lahjusbribe, secret payment
German Schlag mit dem Handrücken, Schmiergeld
  • Schlag mit dem Handrückenblow with the back of the hand
  • Schmiergeldbribe, secret payment
  • Bestechungsgeldbribe, secret payment
  • Bakschischbribe, secret payment
  • heimliche Zahlungbribe, secret payment
  • Rückhandschlagshot played backhand, a backhand stroke
Greek ανάποδη
  • ανάποδη (anápodi)blow with the back of the hand
Italian manrovescio, marrovescio
  • manrovescioblow with the back of the hand
  • marrovescioblow with the back of the hand
  • tangentebribe, secret payment
  • bustarellabribe, secret payment
  • mazzettabribe, secret payment
  • rovescioshot played backhand, a backhand stroke
Māori utu whakapati
  • utu whakapatibribe, secret payment
Polish uderzenie tyłem dłoni, łapówka
  • uderzenie tyłem dłoniblow with the back of the hand
  • łapówkabribe, secret payment
  • bekhendshot played backhand, a backhand stroke
Slovak všimné
  • všimnéshot played backhand, a backhand stroke
Spanish torniscón, anapoda
  • torniscónblow with the back of the hand
  • anapodablow with the back of the hand
  • sobornobribe, secret payment
  • anapodashot played backhand, a backhand stroke
Cite this entry
APA

backhander. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backhander

MLA

“backhander.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backhander. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backhander,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backhander.

Source: backhander on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.