English

Alternative forms

• back-friend

Noun

backfriend ‎(plural backfriends)

1. (Britain, dialectal, obsolete) A false friend; a secret enemy.
   • c. 1702, Roger L'Estrange:

     Set the restless importunities of talebearers and backfriends against fair words and professions

   • South:

     Far is our church from encroaching upon the civil power; as some who are backfriends to both would maliciously insinuate.

   • 1822, Scott, Nigel:

     Ye have back-friends, my lord, that is, un-friends, or to be plain, enemies.

2. (Britain, dialectal) A friend at one's back; a backer; one who does his best for another; a supporter.
   • 1825, Mich. Bruce's Lectures:

     "Yet well's our day for this, we have a good backfriend that will gar our cause stand right again."

   • 2010, David Carkeet, Double Negative:

     I've got a backfriend to meet.'” “A 'backfriend'?” “Yes. Evidently he had a late-night appointment with someone at Wabash. That was the way he liked to do it.”

3. (Britain, dialectal) A hangnail.