backwinding
|back-wind-ing|
/bækˈwaɪnd/
(backwind)
winding backward
Etymology
'backwinding' originates from English: a compound of 'back' + 'wind', where 'back' meant 'toward the rear' and 'wind' (from Old English 'windan') meant 'to turn' or 'to twist'.
'back' comes from Old English 'bæc', and 'wind' comes from Old English 'windan' (to turn). The combination 'back-wind' or 'backwind' emerged in Modern English as a compound verb/noun, and 'backwinding' developed as its present participle/gerund form.
Initially it meant 'to turn or wind toward the rear' in a literal mechanical sense; over time it has kept that literal meaning and also acquired figurative uses meaning 'to reverse a process' or 'undo a sequence of actions'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the action or process of winding something backward; a single instance of reversing the winding of a reel, clock, tape, etc.; occasionally used adjectivally to describe a backward-winding motion.
The backwinding of the reel prevented further tangles but took extra time.
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Verb 1
present participle or gerund form of 'backwind': to wind (something) backward or to reverse the winding of a mechanism; figuratively, to reverse a previously taken process or action.
They are backwinding the tape to find the damaged section.
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Last updated: 2025/12/28 08:51