Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700, 1816-1927
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BACK-CAST, n. 1. An unexpected blow, reverse; a relapse (in health).Sc. 1700 T. Boston Works (1853) XII. 108:
My heart is afraid of a back-cast from Satan.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality viii.:
They'll get a back cast o' his hand yet, that think sae muckle o' the creature, and sae little o' the Creator.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xi.:
The riddle is why the Almighty should give our covenanted Kirk sic a back-cast of His hand.Edb. 1897 P. H. Hunter J. Armiger's Revenge xi.:
But it's been an awfu' grief to me, the way he's been fa'in' aff for a guid while back. It's been a sair back-cast, an' it cam' to a heid last Sabbath.n.Rxb., s.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 45:
‡Back-cast. 1. A reverse. 2. A relapse, esp. during convalescence.
2. = Back-chap, a back stroke, a retort, a comeback, riposte (Sh. 1975). Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 92:
To get anither backcast, his tack said he was to send acht hyooks an' a bandster till the Laird, an' didna he no send a bandster wi' acht sickles on's back.
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"Back-cast n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/backcast>
