back-spring

Definitions

noun A spring formed in the bolt of a lock by cutting a longitudinal slit near its upper edge, thus leaving a strip of unsupported metal which by elastic pressure springs the bolt into its place when it is left by the key.
noun The spring at the rear of the body of a vehicle; specifically, a C-spring which rides up at the back of the carriage, the body of the latter being suspended from the forward end.
noun A spring backward.

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word back-spring.

Nor will I forget that back-spring she used to do, off her finger-ends.

The Bull From The Sea Renault, Mary 1962
I was unable to see what weapon the Cockney used, but he struck behind him as he almost turned a back-spring, fell and lay still.

Jimgrim Mundy, Talbot, 1879-1940 1931
"The A 1 double-action, back-spring, copper-fastened, broad-gauge telegraph line from here to the moon!"

What Might Have Been Expected Frank Richard Stockton 1868
The haft came away in my hand; and as I passed my thumb over the end of it, I could perceive that the blade had snapped off close to the end of the back-spring, so that not even the tenth of an inch of it was left in the handle.

The Boy Tar Mayne Reid 1850
But I had nothing to draw the well-riveted nail, and the back-spring resisted all my efforts to detach it.

The Boy Tar Mayne Reid 1850
It is true I entertained it at first, but I soon discovered a difficulty not to be got over; and that was the removal of the back-spring.

The Boy Tar Mayne Reid 1850
Well, having opened the knife, and drawn my fingers along the blade, and felt it over and over again, in order to get acquainted with its form and fitness; and then, having examined the back-spring, and tried its strength by various openings and shuttings: having done all this, I went to work upon the hard oak.

The Boy Tar Mayne Reid 1850