backheel

1 of 2

noun

back·​heel ˈbak-ˌhēl 

1

: a method of tripping a wrestling opponent by getting a foot behind the opponent's heel and pushing the body backward

also : a throw made in this way

2

soccer : a kick of the ball backward with the heel

She never makes the simple pass when she can get away with a backheel.

—Mia Hamm, quoted in ESPN, 28 June 1999

back-heel

2 of 2

verb, transitive + intransitive

ˈbak-ˌhēl 

back-heeled; back-heeling; back-heels

1

transitive : to trip (someone) by getting a foot behind the heel and pushing the body backward

He tried to push me off then but I stepped in fast and back-heeled him and he went down hard …

—Louis L'Amour, Lando, 1962

2

transitive + intransitive : to strike (something) with the heel using a backward kick

He turned and back-heeled the door closed.

—Robin Pilcher, An Ocean Apart, 1999

especially, soccer : to kick (a ball) backward with the heel

… back-heeled the ball to his Brazilian countryman …

—John Haydon, Washington Times, 19 Mar. 2008

He took a touch before back-heeling for his Argentine strike partner …

—Paul Fraser, Northern Echo, 29 Oct. 2007

Word History

Etymology

Noun

back entry 3 + heel

First Known Use

Noun

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb, Transitive + Intransitive

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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