[f. BACK v. + -ER1.] He who or that which backs.
1. A supporter; esp. one who bets on a horse or event; one who supports by money or credit.
1583. Babington, Commandm., 380. A backer to beare out my foule oppressions.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., i. 1. When fortune is low and backers scarce.
1850. Lytton, My Novel, IX. ix. 86. ‘Take any odds against him that his backers may give,’ said L’Estrange.
2. Arch. ‘A narrow slate put on the back of a broad square-headed slate when the slates begin to get narrow.’ P. Nicholson, Pract. Builder, 1823.
† 3. Arith. The rule of three reversed. Cf. ADVANCER 3. Obs. But perhaps backer is here the adj., q.v.
1543. Recorde, etc., Gr. Arts (1640), 180. That the greater the third summe is above the first, the lesser the fourth summe is beneath the second: and this rule therefore you may call the Backer or Reverse Rule.
