Backing up

Back's River, in British N. America, rising in Su ex Lake, N. of Lake Aylmer, flows N. and N.E. through a sandy region, traverses Lakes Pelly and Garry, and empties into a bay supposed to be the S.W. part of Boothia Gulf, in Lat. 67° 7' 31" N., Lon. 94° 39′ 45′′ W. Back'-staff, n. ( Astron .) An instrument used before the invention of the quadrant and sextant, for taking the sun's altitude at sea, and so called from the back of the observer being turned to the sun while making the observation. It was invented by Captain John Davis, a Welsh mariner, about the year 1690. Back's tairs, n . pl . Stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs. Adj ., tortuous, not straight forward. Backstays, ( bak -stais'.) n. pl. (Naut.) Long ropes extending from the top mastheads to the starboard and port sides of the ship, their use being to second the efforts of the shrouds in supporting the masts. They are usually distinguished into breast-back stays and after-back stays, the intent of the first being to sustain the mast when the ship sails upon a wind; the second to enable her to carry sail when the wind is farther aft. (Printing.) A leather strap serving to check the carriage of a printing-pre .