backhander

backhander

See also: back-hander

English

Etymology

backhand +‎ -er (patient suffix) or -er (agent noun suffix).

Noun

backhander (plural backhanders)

1. A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.
2. A blow with the back of the hand.
3. (informal) A bribe, a secret payment.
4. (racquet sports) A shot played backhand, a backhand stroke.
5. (racquet sports) A player who plays a backhand shot.

   She's a terrific backhander.

6. (surfing) A surfer who approaches a swell with the wave behind them ("on their backhand") rather than facing the wave ("on their forehand").
   • 1990, Surfer - Volume 31, Issues 7-12:

     The morning brought an increased swell; long, perfect, down-the-line, 6-8' freight trains — a forehander's dream and a backhander's nightmare

Translations

blow with the back of the hand

Finnish: rystylyönti (fi) German: Schlag mit dem Handrücken m Greek: ανάποδη (el) f (anápodi) Italian: manrovescio (it) m, marrovescio m Spanish: torniscón

bribe, secret payment

Finnish: lahjus (fi) German: Schmiergeld (de) n, Bestechungsgeld (de) n, Bakschisch (de) n, heimliche Zahlung f Italian: tangente (it) f, bustarella (it) f, mazzetta (it) f Maori: utu whakapati

shot played backhand, a backhand stroke

German: Rückhandschlag m Italian: rovescio (it) m