backwind

verb (used with object), back·wind·ed, back·wind·ing. Nautical.

to divert wind against the lee side of (a sail) from another sail.

to set (a sail) so that the wind is on what would ordinarily be the lee side, as for turning the bow of a boat away from the wind.

to blanket (another sailing vessel) by spilling wind from the sails of one vessel onto the lee side of the sails of the other.

Origin:
1895–1900; back² + wind¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source

Explore Dictionary.com

Previous Definition: backwater-valve

Next Definition: backwood

Words Near: backwind

More from Dictionary.com Translator

Relevant Questions

00:10

Backwind is always a great word to know.

So is gobo. Does it mean:

a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.

Dictionary.com Word FAQs

Dictionary.com presents 366 FAQs, incorporating some of the frequently asked questions from the past with newer queries.

Quote Of The Day