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
1 February 2025
(noun) an intellectual hold or understanding; “a good grip on French history”; “they kept a firm grip on the two top priorities”; “he was in the grip of a powerful emotion”; “a terrible power had her in its grasp”
The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.
