backhander

A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.

Noun

  1. A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.
  2. A blow with the back of the hand.
  3. A bribe, a secret payment.
  4. A shot played backhand, a backhand stroke.
  5. A player who plays a backhand shot.
    • She's a terrific backhander.
  6. A surfer who approaches a swell with the wave behind them ("on their backhand") rather than facing the wave ("on their forehand").
    • The morning brought an increased swell; long, perfect, down-the-line, 6-8' freight trains — a forehander's dream and a backhander's nightmare - 1990, Surfer - Volume 31, Issues 7-12:

Origin

From backhand + -er (patient suffix) or -er (agent noun suffix).

Forms

backhanders