backdam

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A dam that lies to the rear of something.
  2. A region of rural, undeveloped land, especially on the outskirts of a farm.

Pronunciation

/ˈbækdæm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-backdam.wav /ˈbækˌdæm/

Word forms

backdam backdams

Etymology

From back + dam. Sense 2 (“region of rural, undeveloped land”) is possibly a transferred use in Guyana of the term originally referring to a dam built on the side of coastal agricultural land furthest from the sea to prevent swamp water from flowing into the land, to mean the region in the vicinity of the dam.

Antonyms

foredam
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