backstop — 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
backstop — [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
Backstop — 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
backstop — (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
backstop — 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
backstop — 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
backstop — /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… …
backstop — 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
backstop — 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
backstop — back•stop [[t]ˈbækˌstɒp[/t]] n. v. stopped, stop•ping 1) spo a wall, wire screen, or the like, serving to prevent a ball from going beyond the normal playing area 2) any support, safeguard, or reinforcement 3) to act as a backstop to • Etymology … From formal English to slang
