backwater
(noun) a place or condition in which no development or progress is occurring; “the country is an economic backwater”
backwater
(noun) a body of water that was created by a flood or tide or by being held or forced back by a dam; “the bayous and backwaters are breeding grounds for mosquitos”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
backwater (plural backwaters)
The water held back by a dam or other obstruction
(idiomatic) A remote place; somewhere that remains unaffected by new events, progresses, ideas, etc.
A rowing stroke in which the oar is pushed forward to stop the boat; see back water
• (small, backwards place): jerkwater town, one-horse town, Podunk
• See remote place
backwater (third-person singular simple present backwaters, present participle backwatering, simple past and past participle backwatered)
To row or paddle a backwater stroke.
(idiomatic) To vacillate on a long-held position.
Source: Wiktionary
Back"wa`ter, n. Etym: [Back, a. or adv. + -ward. ]
1. Water turned back in its course by an obstruction, an opposing current , or the flow of the tide, as in a sewer or river channel, or across a river bar.
2. An accumulation of water overflowing the low lands, caused by an obstruction.
3. Water thrown back by the turning of a waterwheel, or by the paddle wheels of a steamer.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
21 May 2025
(adverb) at some indefinite or unstated time; “let’s get together sometime”; “everything has to end sometime”; “It was to be printed sometime later”
Decaffeinated coffee is not caffeine-free. Studies from the National Institute of Health (US) have shown that virtually all decaf coffee types contain caffeine. A 236-ml (8-oz) cup of decaf coffee contains up to 7 mg of caffeine, whereas a regular cup provided 70-140 mg.
