Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BACKBER, n. Larboard. [′bɑk-bər]Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Backber, the port side of a boat . . . owseroom and backber were the terms applied to the rowers on the starboard and port sides respectively. E.g. “Pull owseroom — noo up backber.”