What does "backhand" mean?

A stroke made across the chest from the off-hand side to the racquet hand side; a stroke during which the back of the hand faces the shot.

Backhand

Common synonyms include: abusive, atrocious, backhand shot, backhand stroke, backhanded, backstroke.

adj, noun, verb

adj, noun, verb ·2 syllables ·Moderate ·College level

Noun

1
A stroke made across the chest from the off-hand side to the racquet hand side; a stroke during which the back of the hand faces the shot.
"She has a mean backhand."
2
a return made with the back of the hand facing the direction of the stroke wordnet
3
Handwriting that leans to the left.
"It was written in a shaky backhand."
4
The standard throw; a throw during which the disc begins on the off-hand side and travels across the chest to be released from the opposite side.
5
The back of the hand: the reverse side (dorsal side) of the human hand or other primate hand.

Show 1 more definition

Verb

1
To execute a backhand stroke or throw.
2
hit a tennis ball backhand wordnet
3
To slap with the back of one's hand.
"While Joe is driving, Bob gets upset and wants to go back to set up. Bob and Joe argue for a few seconds. Then, Bob grabs the wheel and nearly causes us to hit a tree. In response, Joe backhands Bob and tells him to immediately stop or he will get us killed. Bob says that he was just trying to get us back on track and that he was joking."

Adjective

1
Slanting to the left.
"In great confusion, Gordon accepted the letter, broke its small crested seal, and began reading the neat back-hand scrawl."
2
In the backhand style.
3
Using the back side of the hockey stick.
"He scored on a backhand shot."

Adjective

1
(of racket strokes) made across the body with back of hand facing direction of stroke wordnet
2
(of handwriting) having the letters slanting backward wordnet