backhand

views updated May 29 2018

back·hand / ˈbakˌhand/ • n. 1. (in tennis and other racket sports) a stroke played with the back of the hand facing in the direction of the stroke, typically starting with the arm crossing the body: he drove a backhand into the net. ∎  a blow or stroke of any kind made in this way, or in a direction opposite to the usual: ground balls hit to my backhand.2. handwriting that slopes to the left.• v. [tr.] strike with a backhanded blow or stroke: in a flash, he backhanded Ace across the jaw.

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