backgain

English

Etymology 1

Alteration of back-ganging (noun), equivalent to back- +‎ ganging.

Alternative forms
  • backgaun, back-gang, back-gannin
  • backgane (Scotland)

Noun

backgain (plural backgains)

  1. (UK dialectal) A relapse.
  2. (UK dialectal) A decline; consumption.
  3. (UK dialectal) A relapse in illness.

Etymology 2

Alteration of back-ganging (adjective), equivalent to back +‎ ganging.

Alternative forms
  • back-ga'en, back-gaen

Adjective

backgain (comparative more backgain, superlative most backgain)

  1. (UK dialectal) Receding; going back.
  2. (UK dialectal, of persons) Not thriving in health or in worldly concerns.
    a backgain family

See also
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.