different between backslash vs backlash

English

Etymology

back +? slash, because it is a slash going back against the direction of writing, in contrast to the common slash / (“slash, solidus, oblique, forward slash”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?bæk?slæ?/
• Rhymes: -æ?

Noun

backslash (plural backslashes)

1. The punctuation mark \.
2. (computing, rare, proscribed) Used erroneously in reference to, or in reading out, the ordinary slash, that is, the punctuation mark /.
   • 2001, James T. Bretzke, Bibliography on East Asian Religion and Philosophy, Edwin Mellen Press, ?ISBN, page 455:

     […] I was trying to find a web-site for which I had been given the following address: http://www.isop.ucla.edu/pacrim/pubs/korjournal.htm. […] I began to work backwards, removing first the last part of the address following the last backslash (/korjournal.htm).

   • 2010, Lee Vance, The Garden of Betrayal, Random House (2011), ?ISBN, page 25:

     “So, do what I tell you. Open a browser window and type this in the menu^[sic] bar: F-T-P colon backslash backslash euronews dot net backslash...”

     I pecked carefully at the keyboard as he dictated a URL that was about fifty characters long, […]

   • 2010, Frank Barnas and Ted White, Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing, Fifth Edition, Elsevier, ?ISBN, page 114:

     Also, avoid submenus^[sic] that can confuse the audience—if you're giving lengthy Web site addresses full of backslashes, shorten it so only the Web site's home page is given.

Usage notes

• Sometimes used to indicate the beginning and ending of an area of words being marked for correction.

Synonyms

• reverse solidus
• slosh
• whack

Antonyms

• slash

Coordinate terms

• slash

Translations

Verb

backslash (third-person singular simple present backslashes, present participle backslashing, simple past and past participle backslashed)

1. (computing, transitive) To escape (a metacharacter) by prepending a backslash that serves as an escape character, thereby forming an escape sequence.

See also

• backslash on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Typography

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English backslash.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?ksl??/
• Hyphenation: back?slash

Noun

backslash m (plural backslashes or backslashen, diminutive backslashje n)

1. backslash

Synonyms

• omgekeerde schuine streep
• schuine streep naar achter
• schuine streep naar links
• terugschrap
• terugstreep

English

Etymology

From back +? lash.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?bæk?læ?/
• Rhymes: -æ?

Noun

backlash (countable and uncountable, plural backlashes)

1. A sudden backward motion.
2. (figuratively) A negative reaction, objection or outcry, especially of a violent or abrupt nature.

3. (mechanics) The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear.
4. The jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.

Derived terms

• techlash

Translations

Verb

backlash (third-person singular simple present backlashes, present participle backlashing, simple past and past participle backlashed)

1. To cause or set off a backlash.

   (The addition of quotations indicative of this usage is being sought:)

Anagrams

• black ash, hacklabs