# backhander

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.
2. A blow with the back of the hand.
3. A bribe, a secret payment.
4. A shot played backhand, a backhand stroke.
5. A player who plays a backhand shot.
6. A surfer who approaches a swell with the wave behind them ("on their backhand") rather than facing the wave ("on their forehand").

## Etymology
From backhand + -er (patient suffix) or -er (agent noun suffix).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/backhander