Definition of "backstroke"

backstroke

/ˈbækˌstɹoʊk/

noun
plural backstrokes
1. A backhanded stroke or blow.
  Quotations
  He observed that Cid Ruy-dias was an excellent knight; but not equal to the Lord of the Flaming-sword, who with one back-stroke [translating revés] had cut two fierce and monstrous giants through the middle.
  1755, Miguel de Cervantes, translated by Tobias Smollett, Don Quixote, Volume 1, I.1
2. (swimming) A stroke swum lying on one's back, while rotating both arms through the water as to propel the swimmer backwards.
3. (bellringing) The pull on the tail of the rope that swings the bell through a full circle (compare handstroke)
verb
third-person singular simple present backstrokes, present participle backstroking, simple past and past participle backstroked
1. To swim the backstroke.