Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BACK-LICK, n.
1. A return stroke in a ball game.Mearns 1900 W. MacGillivray Glengoyne 49–50:
Geordie . . . was rather slow and awkward . . . so that he could never scramble successfully in the thick of the game, but for keeping in the back lick there was none like him. When the ball came up to him he used to give it such a stroke as sent it back over the heads of all the other players on both sides.
2. A back blow in fighting or boxing, perhaps the kidney punch. Also used fig.Abd.13 1910:
Backlick. “The clean backlick,” the worst that could happen.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 37:
Back-lick — A back-blow. Commonly these blows are the most severe of any.
3. Phr. at the backlick, completely baffled.Abd.(D) 1911 Mains and Hilly in Abd. Wkly. Free Press (30 Sept.):
Aw'm at th' backlick for wint o' watter.
