backstop
/ˈbæk.stɒp/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms backstops backstopping backstopped back-stop
- noun An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support.
- noun A default arrangement that holds if all else fails.
- noun (baseball) A wall or fence behind home plate.
- noun (baseball, slang) A catcher; the position of catcher.
- noun (rounders) The player who stands immediately behind the striking base.
- noun (cricket, dated) The longstop.
- noun (cricket, dated) The wicket-keeper.
- noun (espionage) Something serving to bolster or support a cover story etc.
- verb (transitive) To serve as backstop for.
- verb (transitive) To bolster, support.
- proper noun (UK) A proposed seamless border between Ireland and Northern Ireland in the event of Brexit.
Synonyms
Etymology
From back + stop.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “backstop”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details