backhand adj 1: (of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke [syn: {backhand(a)}, {backhanded}] [ant: {forehand(a)}, {forehanded}] 2: (of handwriting) having the letters slanting backward [syn: {backhand}, {left-slanting}] n 1: a return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke [syn: {backhand}, {backhand stroke}, {backhand shot}] v 1: hit a tennis ball backhand
Backhand \Back"hand`\, n. [Back, adv. + hand.] 1. A kind of handwriting in which the downward slope of the letters is from left to right. [1913 Webster] 2. (Sports) The stroke of a ball with a racket or paddle, in which head of the racket starts from the side of the body opposite to that of the arm in which the racket is held, and proceeds forward to meet the ball. Contrasted with {forehand}. [PJC]
Backhand \Back"hand`\, a. 1. Sloping from left to right; -- said of handwriting. [1913 Webster] 2. Backhanded; indirect; oblique. [R.] [1913 Webster]