Obs. [f. BACK sb. and adv. + BLOW sb.]
1. A blow struck at the back or from behind.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xix. (b) 127. A premeditated back-blow in cold bloud is base.
1857. Househ. Words, 12 Sept., 245. Outwitted him at his own game of backblows.
2. fig. (Cf. AFTER-CLAP.)
a. 1649. Drumm. of Hawth., Jas. III., Wks. 55. So many backblows of fortune.
1705. Stanhope, Paraphr., II. 456. That Reflexion fell upon his Mind with this terrible back-blow.
