back and fill (English, verb)
expansion: back and fill (third-person singular simple present backs and fills, present participle backing and filling, simple past and past participle backed and filled)
Senses:
topics: nautical
transport
glosses: To manage the sails of a ship so that the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current or tide carries the vessel against the wind.
topics: nautical
transport
tags: figuratively
glosses: To take opposite positions alternately; to flip-flop
Forms:
form: backs and fills
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: backing and filling
tags: participle
present
form: backed and filled
tags: participle
past
form: backed and filled
tags: past