Mech. The jarring reaction or striking back of a wheel or set of connected wheels in a piece of mechanism, when the motion is not uniform or when sudden pressure is applied. Back-lashing (in same sense).
1863. N. Brit. Rev., May, 257. Throughout the machine, in such a case, there is too much back-lash.
1883. Fisheries Exhib. Catal., 33. Steering Gear … whereby the steersman is relieved from the danger of back-lash on the wheel.
1883. Century Mag., 381. To prevent the reel from back-lashing.
