backstop

  • 1backstop — USA A term used in the financial industry to mean credit support or backup funds for a financial instrument or transaction. For example, letters of credit are often issued to backstop commercial paper in the event that the commercial paper issuer …

    Law dictionary

  • 2backstop — [bak′stäp΄] n. ☆ 1. Sports a fence, screen, etc., esp. one behind the catcher in baseball, serving to stop balls from leaving the playing area 2. anything that supports or bolsters vt. backstopped, backstopping to act as a backstop for …

    English World dictionary

  • 3Backstop — Back stop , n. 1. In baseball, a fence, prop. at least 90 feet behind the home base, to stop the balls that pass the catcher; also, the catcher himself. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] 2. In rounders, the player who stands immediately behind the striking… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4backstop — (n.) 1819, in cricket, from BACK (Cf. back) (adj.) + STOP (Cf. stop). In U.S. baseball, from 1889, fence behind the catcher; figurative extension to catcher on a baseball team is from 1890. The verb is attested from 1956 in the sense of support.… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5backstop — backstopper, n. /bak stop /, n., v., backstopped, backstopping. n. 1. a wall, wire screen, or the like, serving to prevent a ball from going too far beyond the normal playing area. 2. Baseball. the catcher. 3. a person or thing that serves as a… …

    Universalium

  • 6backstop — I. noun Date: 1851 1. something at the back serving as a stop: as a. a screen or fence for keeping a ball from leaving the field of play b. a stop (as a pawl) that prevents a backward movement (as of a wheel) 2. a player (as the catcher)… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 7backstop — /ˈbækstɒp / (say bakstop) noun 1. Sport a person, screen, or fence placed to prevent a ball going too far. 2. a person who or a thing which is relied on for assistance when all else fails: I have $500 as a backstop. 3. Rowing a wooden block at… …

  • 8backstop — I noun 1. (baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher • Syn: ↑catcher • Derivationally related forms: ↑catch (for: ↑catcher) …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 9backstop — 1. noun a) A device that prevents railroad cars from rolling off a railroad track. b) A wall behind home plate. 2. verb a) To serve as backstop for. b) …

    Wiktionary

  • 10backstop — noun 1》 a person or thing placed at the rear of something as a barrier or support. 2》 Baseball a high fence or similar structure behind the home plate area. 3》 Baseball a catcher. verb Baseball act as backstop for …

    English new terms dictionary