backstop

== English == === Alternative forms === back-stop === Etymology === From back +‎ stop. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈbæk.stɒp/ === Noun === backstop (plural backstops) An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support. Coordinate term: backup A default arrangement that holds if all else fails. Coordinate term: backup The Express, 7 June 2018 Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar, this morning, said a time-limited backstop would be unacceptable, and has previously promised to vote down the UK’s Brexit withdrawal deal unless it features a satisfactory backstop. The Irish Times, 17 November 2018 "The 2½ years since have been about hammering home these points in any European capital that would listen. And in spite of capacity-sapping talks on the first point – Brexit, border and backstop – the Department of Foreign Affairs and other government departments have been working quietly to make good on the second. (baseball) A wall or fence behind home plate. (baseball, slang) A catcher; the position of catcher. (rounders) The player who stands immediately behind the striking base. (cricket, dated) The longstop. (cricket, dated) The wicket-keeper. (espionage) Something serving to bolster or support a cover story etc. ==== Coordinate terms ==== (thing or a person to support): rearguard ==== Translations ==== === Verb === backstop (third-person singular simple present backstops, present participle backstopping, simple past and past participle backstopped) (transitive) To serve as backstop for. (transitive) To bolster, support. ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === back post, backpost, postback