Meanings
plural backhanders
- 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
From backhand + -er (patient suffix) or -er (agent noun suffix).
Full word history & related roots →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
backhander. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backhander
“backhander.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backhander. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “backhander,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/backhander.
Source: backhander on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.