aback

adv

1. (Geordie, archaic, not-comparable)Towards the back or rear; backwards.

   “The mild, though licentious reign, of Louis the Sixteenth, threw France far aback, in her ambitious career; but it gave birth to that revolution, wherein, her warlike propensities and territorial resources were unfolded with tenfold efficacy.”

   “Then stopped, and bounded aback, and away as if in fear, / That I saw her no more; then I wondered though sitting close anear / Was a she-wolf great and grisly.”

   “hoyed aback o' the fire”

2. (archaic, not-comparable)In the rear; a distance behind.

   “There are so many canes upon Reliance that the labourers could not cut those aback, as they prefer cutting those in front. The cane fields aback were in cultivation last year.”

3. (not-comparable)By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)

   “I would rather board a hundred of the enemy's frigates, than steer my boat into a fleet of modest women, for a modest woman never fails to take me aback.”

4. (not-comparable)Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way.

   “Q. Was not the Trident at that time aback with one or more Top-sails? A. To the best of my Knowledge she had both Top-sails aback.”

   “As the anchor fetches her up, she will swing head to wind, bringing the head sails aback.”

   “Then the sails on the mainmast were backing and we started getting stern way. Eagle was caught aback.”

noun

1. (Early, Modern, obsolete)An inscribed stone square.

   “In the Centre, or midst of the Pegm, there was an Aback, or Square, wherein this Elogy was written.”