Middle English Dictionary Entry

bak n.
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Entry Info

Forms bak n. Also bakke.
Etymology OE bæc

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) The back of the body of man or beast; (b) ~ and beli (brest, side, etc.); (c) the rear end.
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2.
The spinal column, backbone; breken the ~, breken ~ and bon(es, etc.; broke ~, hunchback; (cp. bak-bon).
Show 9 Quotations
3.
(a) A person's back as covered by clothing or armor; clothing for ~ and bed, etc.; (b) a garment which covers the back; a cloak; pl. clothes; bakclothes.
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4.
An animal's fur or pelt.
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5.
(a) A person's back as bearer of burdens; beren..on (upon, at) the bak; also fig.; (b) an animal's back as bearer of burdens or riders.
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6.
(a) A person's back as turned to or away from someone else; the opposite of one's face; bak to bak; shewen (the) ~ to, turn one's back on (sb.), ignore; (b) turnen the ~, turn away from (sb.); specif., turn the back in flight, flee; (c) yeven (the) ~, retreat, flee.
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7.
(a) The back (of the hand, a finger); the top (of the foot); (b) the back (of a utensil); (c) the non-cutting edge (of an edged tool); (d) the reverse side (of a document); (e) the back (of a garment); (f) the rear (of a building); the back streets (of a town).
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8.
The surface (of a sphere); the outer edge (of a rainbow).
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9.
In prep. phrases: (a) at (the) bak, in, to, or from the rear; in back, behind; bi aften ~, in back; bihinde ~, in or to the rear; on (of) ~, in or to the rear, backward; drauen on ~, withdraw, retreat, flee; beren (putten) on ~, drive back, put to flight; (b) behinde bak, behind (someone's) back; also, out of sight, hearing, or knowledge; secretly, clandestinely; fro ~, from out of sight.
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10.
Noun phrases and cpds.: (a) bak-dunt, a blow on the back; (b) ~ frend, an insincere friend; (c) ~ rekening, a claim made on a past debt; (d) ~ relai, the last of several relays of hounds taking part in the chase; (e) ~ rope, a rope crossing a horse's back to support the shafts of a vehicle; (f) ~ stai, naut. a backstay; (g) ~ stal, a rear stall; ?also, to the back; (h) ~ strete, a side street; (i) ~ tharm, the rectum; (j) ~ warde, rear guard; (k) ~ water, a stream flowing in from behind; (l) ~ winter, a return of wintry weather; (m) ~ wort, a popular name for some plant in the genus Polygonum, probably bistort Polygonum bistorta, because of its supposed therapeutic properties for sore backs; (n) ~ yerd, ?a back yard.
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Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. back.

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