Meaning
At or near the rear.
Etymology
Origin: Old English
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-der.? Proto-Germanic *baką Proto-West Germanic *bak Old English bæc Middle English bak English back From Middle English bak, from Old English bæc, from Proto-West Germanic *bak, from Proto-Germanic *baką, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to bend”). The adverb represents an aphetic form of aback. Compare Middle Low German bak (“back”), from Old Saxon bak, and West Frisian bekling (“chair back”), Old High German bah, Swedish and Norwegian bak. Cognate with German Bache (“sow [adult female hog]”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 20 recorded puzzles:
- 2026-05-20ABODCKR
- 2026-04-18CAMEBKO
- 2026-03-03ABCEKLO
- 2026-02-16ABCKMOR
- 2025-10-23ABCFILK
- 2025-04-10CALEBKP
- 2025-03-31ABOMKCE
- 2025-03-14KRALOCB
- 2025-01-13ATKCJOB
- 2024-11-22BACIKLT
- 2024-08-11BTACKOL
- 2024-07-27BACEHKL
+8 earlier appearances in the archive.