subs. phr. (common).—1. A glass of wine out of turn, the bottle being passed back or retained for a second glass instead of ‘following the sun’ round the table. Hence BACKHAND (verb.) and BACKHANDING (subs.).
1855. THACKERAY, The Newcomes, xliii. Thank you, Mr. Binnie, I will take a BACKHANDER, as Clive don’t seem to drink.
1857. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Livingstone, viii. Livingstone, if you begin BACKHANDING already, you’ll never be able to hold that great raking chestnut.
1873. The Saturday Review, 27 Dec., 798. 2. A kindly host affects not to notice a valued guest, who, he observes, always helps himself to an innocent BACKHANDER.
2. (common).—A blow on the face delivered with the back of the hand; hence an unexpected rebuff, a SET-DOWN (q.v.).
1836. MARRYAT, Mr. Midshipman Easy, iv. 10. ‘Go away, Sarah,’ said Johnny, with a BACKHANDER.
c. 1840. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College (1870), 43. The Doctor … finds Tibbs mopping the rosy … with a rueful countenance, having just received a sharp BACK-HANDER.
1856. WHYTE-MELVILLE, Kate Coventry, i. This was … a BACK HANDER at me, but I … only said … Ibid. (1862), Inside Bar, x. This—was obviously a BACK-HANDER at James.
1862. F. W. FARRAR, St. Winifred’s, xxxiii. He administered a BACKHANDER to Elgood,… and the next minute Charlie … had knocked him down.
1880. World, 21 Aug., 7. The Lieutenant-General got a prompt BACKHANDER when he asked for a return of the contributions.
1882. E. J. WORBOISE, Sissie, xxii. A heavy BACKHANDER by way of punishment.
