Dictionary

shelfback en · NOUN

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- Proto-Indo-European *(s)kel(H)-p-der. Proto-Germanic *skelfōder. Proto-West Germanic *skelfu:der. Proto-West Germanic *skilfijā Old English sċylfe? Middle English schelfe English shelf Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-der.? Proto-Germanic *baką Proto-West Germanic *bak Old English bæc Middle English bak English back English shelfback From shelf + back.

Meanings

1. The vertical surface forming the back of a shelf.
   • She came home later that day from Mrs. Rafferty's with a blue platter, which she placed standing up against the shelfback in the linen closet. 2001, Regina McBride, The Nature of Water and Air, page 62:
2. The spine of a book.
   • There was the man who collected any old volumes on etymology. There was a collector of books with gilded Victorian shelfbacks. 1934, The Atlantic Monthly, volume 153, page 71:

Forms