[f. BACK a. + DOOR.]
1. A door at the back of a building or enclosure, as opposed to the front-door; a secondary or private entrance.
1530. Palsgr., 196/1. Backe dore, huys de derriere.
1535. Coverdale, Judg. iii. 23. Ehud gat him out at the backe dore.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1727), 58. He would stand at the door … to keep of the duns, till John got out at the back-door.
1857. Heavysege, Saul (1869), 106. They shall sneak in at Gibeah’s back-door.
2. fig.; also attrib. = Unworthily secret, clandestine.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. iii. 45. Hauing found the backe doore open Of the vnguarded hearts.
1700. J. Law, Counc. Trade (1751), 276. Their back-door to let in mischief.
1805. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1830), IV. 46. Our back-door counsellors.
