backstairs

or back·stair

[ bak-stairz ]
See synonyms for backstairs on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. associated or originating with household servants: Weak tea and burnt toast evidenced the start of a backstairs revolt.

  2. secret, underhanded, or scandalous: backstairs gossip.

Origin of backstairs

1
First recorded in 1635–45; adjective use of back stairs

Words Nearby backstairs

Other definitions for back stairs (2 of 2)

back stairs

noun
  1. stairs at the back of a house, as for use by servants.

  2. a means of intrigue.

Origin of back stairs

2
First recorded in 1620–30

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use backstairs in a sentence

  • Which means that every seat contains someone who is reclining straight into the lap of their backstairs neighbor.

  • You ought to employ a few supple Politiques, accustomed to palace backstairs.

    The White Plumes of Navarre | Samuel Rutherford Crockett
  • Keep a good heart, even if you have to knock in vain at many doors, and kick about the backstairs of the house of letters.

    My First Book: | Various
  • Nevertheless, Comstock neglected no chance to apply his backstairs pressure to the members of both Houses.

    A Book of Prefaces | H. L. Mencken
  • The minister was pleased that this man did not try to get in by backstairs influence, but came direct by the front entrance.

  • The explanation was Madam Hermansen, who had the backstairs entry of every house in Knarreby.

    Egholm and his God | Johannes Buchholtz

British Dictionary definitions for backstairs

backstairs

/ (ˈbækˈstɛəz) /


pl n
  1. a secondary staircase in a house, esp one originally for the use of servants

adjectiveAlso: backstair
  1. underhand: backstairs gossip

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012