Careful Words

backed (adv.)

backed (adj.)

  Ham.  Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel?

  Pol.  By the mass, and 't is like a camel, indeed.

  Ham.  Methinks it is like a weasel.

  Pol.  It is backed like a weasel.

  Ham.  Or like a whale?

  Pol.  Very like a whale.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.