backslash

== English == === Alternative forms === back slash === Etymology === From back +‎ slash, because it is a slash “leaning back” against the direction of writing (in writing lines from left to right), in contrast to the more common (forward) slash / (“solidus, oblique, diagonal”). The actual direction of (hand-)writing these marks can be reversed, when writing from left to right, top to baseline: the backslash forwards, the (forward) slash backwards. The naming can be explained as an anthropomorphism, assuming a bar (|) standing on the baseline, facing in the direction of writing, toppling backwards or forwards, respectively. The (new) Unicode name of \ is REVERSE SOLIDUS. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbækˌslæʃ/ Rhymes: -æʃ === Noun === backslash (plural backslashes) The punctuation mark \ (a left-leaning diagonal line). (Common uses include (1) use as a delimiter in filepaths and (2) use as an escape character to mark literals.) Synonyms: backward slash, reverse solidus, slosh, whack Coordinate terms: slash, forward slash (computing, rare, proscribed) The punctuation mark /; a slash, forward slash. ==== Usage notes ==== Sometimes used to indicate the beginning and ending of an area of words being marked for correction. ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === backslash (third-person singular simple present backslashes, present participle backslashing, simple past and past participle backslashed) (computing, transitive) To escape (a metacharacter) by prepending a backslash that serves as an escape character, thereby forming an escape sequence. ==== See also ==== backslash on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Typography == Dutch == === Etymology === Borrowed from English backslash. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbɛkslɛʃ/ Hyphenation: back‧slash === Noun === backslash m (plural backslashes or backslashen, diminutive backslashje n) backslash ==== Synonyms ==== omgekeerde schuine streep schuine streep naar achter schuine streep naar links terugschrap terugstreep