backswept
|back-swept|
/ˈbæk.swept/
swept toward the back
Etymology
'backswept' is formed from the combination of the word 'back' and the past participle 'swept' (from 'sweep'), where 'back' meant 'rear' and 'sweep' meant 'to move or brush along.
'sweep' comes from Old English 'swēopan' which evolved into Middle English and then Modern English 'sweep'; the compound 'backswept' developed in Modern English by joining 'back' + 'swept'.
Initially it simply described something that had been 'swept to the back'; over time it became an adjectival form used for hairstyles and for structures (e.g., wings) meaning 'slanted or drawn toward the rear'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
hair that is combed or styled so that it is swept toward the back of the head.
She wore her hair backswept for the wedding.
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Adjective 2
(of a structure such as a wing or fin) having a backward sweep; slanted toward the rear.
The aircraft's backswept wings improved high-speed performance.
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Last updated: 2025/12/27 22:50