Brewing. [UNDER-1 5 b.] A vessel placed below the mash-tub or mash-tun to receive the raw wort when let out from this. (See also UNDERBECK.)
1635. Toke (Kent) Estate Acc. (MS.), fol. 178. Underbacks in the bruehouse.
1686. in Essex Rev. (1906), XV. 173. One mashing tubb, and underback.
1725. Fam. Dict., s.v. Brewing, When all is run out into the Receiver, or Under-Back, lade or pump out your second Liquor.
1763. Museum Rust., I. 203. The first wort is then let out in a small stream into the underback.
1830. M. Donovan, Dom. Econ., I. 159. When the tap has been set, and the worts are allowed to run from the mash-tun, the transparent liquor is received into a large vessel called the underback.
1887. Pall Mall G., 25 Oct., 6/1. A huge display of saccharometers, hydrometers… false bottoms, copper underbacks, and live steam injectors.
b. (see quot.)
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2679/2. The name underback is also applied to a similar vessel in a vinegar factory.
