backbeats
|back-beats|
/ˈbæk.biːts/
(backbeat)
accent on the offbeat
Etymology
'backbeat' originates from English as a compound of 'back' and 'beat'; 'back' ultimately comes from Old English 'bæc' where 'bæc' meant 'back', and 'beat' comes from Old English 'beatan' where 'beatan' meant 'to strike'.
'backbeat' initially appeared in 20th‑century musical usage, often written hyphenated as 'back‑beat', and later consolidated into the single word 'backbeat' as the term became standard in descriptions of popular music rhythms.
Initially a literal compound meaning 'a beat at the back', it evolved in musical terminology to mean the specific rhythmic accent on off‑beats (now the established musical sense).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'backbeat': a rhythmic accent placed on the off‑beats (typically beats 2 and 4 in 4/4 time), characteristic of styles such as rock, pop, R&B, and some jazz.
The drummer emphasized the backbeats on beats 2 and 4 to give the song a driving groove.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/25 12:16