backgain
English
Etymology 1
Alteration of back-ganging (noun), equivalent to back + ganging.
Alternative forms
- backgaun, back-gang, back-gannin
- backgane (Scotland)
Noun
backgain (plural backgains)
- (Britain dialectal) A relapse.
- (Britain dialectal) A decline; consumption.
- (Britain dialectal) A relapse in illness.
Etymology 2
Alteration of back-ganging (adjective), equivalent to back + ganging.
Alternative forms
- back-ga'en, back-gaen
Adjective
backgain (comparative more backgain, superlative most backgain)
- (Britain dialectal) Receding; going back.
- (Britain dialectal, of persons) Not thriving in health or in worldly concerns.
- a backgain family
See also
- back-ganging