What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Aback vs Abacs - What's the difference?

aback | abacs |

As nouns the difference between aback and abacs

is that aback is an abacus while abacs is plural of lang=en.

As an adverb aback

is towards the back or rear; backwards.

aback

English

Etymology 1

* From (etyl) . * . Compare West Frisian .

Adverb

(-)
  • (archaic) Towards the back or rear; backwards.
  • * (rfdate),
    • Therewith aback she started.
  • (archaic) In the rear; a distance behind.
    • (Knolles)
  • By surprise; startled; dumbfounded.
  • (nautical) Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way.
    • By setting the foresail aback and the headsail in the middle one can bring a fore-and-aft rigged sailing boat practically to a halt even in heavy wind.
    (Totten)
    Usage notes
    * (by surprise) Preceded by a form of the word take .

    See also

    *

    Etymology 2

    From abacus.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An abacus.
    • (Ben Jonson)

    References

    abacs

    English

    Noun

    (head)