back-ganging

English

WOTD – 20 January 2023

Etymology

From back- +‎ ganging (“going”), from gang (“to go, proceed; to walk”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbækˌɡæŋɪŋ/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: back-gang‧ing

Adjective

back-ganging (comparative more back-ganging, superlative most back-ganging) (chiefly Northern England, Scotland)

1. Behind or late in payment or rent; in arrears.
   • 1824 June, [Walter Scott], “Letter XI. The Same to the Same [Darsie Latimer to Alan Fairford].”, in Redgauntlet, […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 239:

     Here he opened the fatal volume [a rental book]; I have heard of a thing they call Doomsday book—I am clear it has been a rental of back-ganging tenants.

2. Not in a good financial state; unprosperous.

   Synonym: backgain

3. Not in good health; sickly, unhealthy.

   Synonym: backgain

Alternative forms

• back-gangin, back-gannin

Related terms

• backgain

Translations

behind or late in payment or rent

• Finnish: jolla on maksut myöhässä, jolla on maksut rästissä (literally “that has late payments”), jolla on vuokra myöhässä, jolla on vuokra rästissä (literally “that has late rent”)

not in a good financial state — see unprosperous

not in good health — see sickly,‎ unhealthy

Noun

back-ganging (uncountable) (chiefly Northern England, Scotland)

1. A going back; a returning; also, the way back.
2. A deterioration, especially in circumstances or health; a relapse, a retrograde.

   Synonym: backgain

Translations

going back — see returning

way back

• Finnish: paluureitti

deterioration, especially in circumstances or health — see relapse