backwater

1 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"

2 any backward region that is isolated from the world and resists progress

English

Alternative spellings

• back water
• back-water

Noun

1. The water held back by a dam or other obstruction
2. a remote place; somewhere that remains unaffected by new events, progresses, ideas, etc.

   It's fun exploring the backwaters of Wiktionary and seeing what messes we find when we get there.

3. A rowing stroke in which the oar is pushed forward to stop the boat; see back water

Synonyms

• jerkwater town, one-horse town, Podunk

Verb

1. To row or paddle a backwater stroke.
2. To vacillate on a long-held position.

Backwater or Backwaters may refer to:

• "Backwater" (Brian Eno), a song by Brian Eno
• Backwater (novel), a novel by Joan Bauer
• "Backwater" (single), a song recorded by the Meat Puppets
• Backwater Reservoir, a reservoir in north west Angus, Scotland
• Backwaters Press, an American book publishing company
• Kerala Backwaters, a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes

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