arch. [f. BACK sb.]
1. A sword with only one cutting edge.
1611. Cotgr., Badelaire, a short and broad back sword.
1645. Sacr. Decretal, 24. St. Paul’s Back-sword at his side.
c. 1750. Bolingbroke, Pol. Tracts, 214. The backsword of Justice which cuts only on one side.
2. A stick with a basket-hilt used instead of a sword in fencing, a single-stick; hence b. fencing exercise with it.
1699. Farquhar, Love & Bottle, II. (1728), 30. I’m much in love with fencing, but, I think, backsword is the best play.
1747. J. Godfrey, Sc. Defence, Pref. I have purchased my knowledge in the Back-Sword with many a broken head.
3. A fencer with back-sword or single-stick.
1672. Davenant, Siege Rhodes (1673), 5. To the Back-swords of London.
1779. Sheridan, St. Patrick’s Day, I. ii. 295. A sturdy fellow … and the best back-sword in the country.
Back-swording = BACK-SWORD 2 b. Back-swordman = BACK-SWORD 3.
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 70. I knew him a good Back-Sword-man.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, ii. The great times for back-swording came round once a year. Ibid. A famous back-sword man.
