[f. BACK adv.]
1. The hand turned backwards in making a stroke, as (at Tennis) in taking balls at the left hand, by stretching the right across the body, hence the left-hand ‘play’ or ‘court’ in the game. Hence fig.
1657. Disbrowe, in Burton, Diary (1828), II. 48. It reflects upon the Long Parliament by the back-hand…. So I desire the preamble may be laid aside.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., IV. (1705), 43 (D.). That’s odds at Tennis, my lord:… I’ll endeavour to keep your Back hand a little.
c. 1706. Vanbrugh, Mistake, V. 1. I desire the honour to keep your back hand myself. Lopez (servant to Don L.) ’Tis very kind indeed. Pray, sir, have you ne’er a servant with you could hold a racket for me too?
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xix. As if I had picked you out of the whole of St. James’s coffee-house to hold my back-hand.
2. Handwriting with the letters sloped backwards.
Mod newspaper. Other letters produced were written by Street in his back-hand.
B. attrib. as adj. = BACK-HANDED.
1695. Blackmore, Pr. Arth., X. 781. With a back hand Blow.
