back of - From Ulster to America
Source: From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English
Author: Michael Montgomery
Comments: From Ulster to America recounts the lasting impact eighteenth-century settlers from Ulster have made on the development of the English language of the United States. The book documents over 500 vocabulary items contributed to American English by these ‘Scotch-Irish’ settlers. Each ‘shared’ term with its meaning is authenticated by quotations from both sides of the Atlantic. This searchable online version of his book takes its text from the dictionary part of the second edition published by the Ullans Press in 2017.
back of, aback of, a-bak o prep phr Of position: behind, beyond. Of time: earlier than. [oed (at back adv 15) ‘back from, behind’ 1694→]
Ulst.:
1949 Mac Airt Tyrone Folktales 38 There’s an old torn quilt there and clap it about you and go round there aback of the house and come up that lea field before the door.
1975 Murphy You’re Talking 63 She run and put the hen back under the bowl and put the whiskey aback of the plates on the dresser.
1983 Marshall Drumlister 17 Back of there the sun is shining, and the riverside is cheery.
1997 Robinson Grammar 105 ‘To the back of’ is behinn, ahint, or a-bak o.
U.S.:
1939 Hall Coll They was out of hearing a-going out just a-back of Round Top.
1969 GSMNP-46:5 Back of that, he just minded every word I said to him.
1970 GSMNP-26:4 Now the road comes back of the Ephraim house, but it did come in front of it.
Purchase From Ulster to America
The second, revised edition of Michael Montgomery’s From Ulster to America is now available here:
From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English (Europe)
From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English (North America)