Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BACK-WATER, -WATTIR, n.

1. The back flow from a mill-lade which hinders the revolution of the mill-wheel. Lit. and fig.(1) lit. Sc. 1825 Jam.²:
Back-water. The water in a mill-race, which is gorged up by ice, or by the swelling of the river below, so that it cannot get away from the mill.Per. 1898 G.W. in E.D.D.; Abd.² 1933:
If there is not a sufficient fa' below the mill-wheel, the water in which it turns is called the back-water.(2) fig. Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 334 (E.D.D. Suppl.):
The days that I hae seen Gars sa't backwater fill my een.

Comb.: back water gang, the channel which conveys the back water away. Ags. 1734 Reg. Particular Sasines (S.R.O.) (10 Sept.):
To carry over the Dyke of a Dam over the Way Loom or back water gang of the Miln of Pitkerro.

2. Phrase: To cause the eyes to stand backwater in one's head, to reduce an antagonist to helplessness, to make to weep, to bring tears to one's eyes, a metaphor derived from the back flow of the water on a mill-wheel.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 9:
“A'll haud till 'im till's een stan' back-wattir in's hehd,” i.e. do his utmost; he is unable to get the better of me.Slk. 1829 Hogg Poems (1865) 327:
Nought sae weel pleased him, when he could win at her, As to gar her mild gray een stand in back-water.