Forms: 56 bak-, backesyde, 6 bak-, 7 backeside, 6 backside. [f. BACK a. Now pronounced as two words, exc. in sense 3 (and 2 dialectally).]
1. The hinder or back part; the back, the rear.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxiii. 72. That on the baksyde of the bataylle they be not enuahysshed.
1571. Digges, Pantom., I. xxviii. The backeside of your instrument.
1641. Hinde, J. Bruen, xlvi. 147. Came out at the backside of his leg.
1728. Newton, Chronol. Amended, 10. Scythians from the backside of the Euxine Sea.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Jrnls. (1872), I. 36. The worst back-side lanes.
† 2. The back premises, back yard, out-buildings, attached to a dwelling; also, the privy. Now dial.
1541. Act 33 Hen. VIII., xxxvi. Houses, with the curtilage backeside and gardeine adjoining.
1630. Lord, Banians & Persees, 79. Administring food to a young Kid in his Fathers backeside.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, Wks. 1768, I. 150. An authentic phrase for demanding the way to the back-side.
1804. R. Anderson, Cumberld. Ball., 79. The witch weyfe beggd in our backseyde.
3. The posteriors or rump.
c. 1500. Robin Hood (Ritson), II. iv. 236. With an arrowe so broad, He shott him into the backe-syde.
1651. H. More, Sec. Lash Alaz., To Rdr. As if his senses lay all in his backside, and had left his brains destitute.
1713. Addison, Guardian, No. 156 (1756), II. 288. A poor ant with her head downwards, and her backside upwards.
1827. Gentl. Mag., XCVII. II. 522. He shall fall on his back-side.
† 4. The under surface of a leaf; the reverse side or back of a document, page, book, etc.; cf. BACK sb. 3, 4. Obs.
1547. Act 1 Edw. VI., v. § 5. Indorsed and written on the Back-side of the said Licence.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 86 b. Upon the bak syde they [Hartstongue leaves] haue as it wer smal wormes hangyng on.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. viii. 116. On the backside of this paper are writ these words.
1720. Lond. Gaz., No. 5910/5. Lost a Pocket-Book writ on the backside John Bennett.
† 5. fig. The reverse or wrong side; the opposite.
1645. Milton, Colast., Wks. (1851), 377. To endorse him on the back-side of posterity, not a golden, but a brazen Asse.
1695. Congreve, Love for L., IV. xix. Just the very backside of Truth.