backhander

Noun

backhander (plural backhanders)

1. A glass of wine given out of turn, the bottle having been handed backwards.
2. A blow with the back of the hand; a blow delivered with a swing of the arm across the chest.
   • I thought he would have given me a backhander with his jelly spoon[.]1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 151
3. (informal) A bribe, a secret payment.
4. A shot played backhand, a backhand stroke.
5. A player who plays a backhand shot.
   • She's a terrific backhander.
6. A surfer who approaches a swell with the wave behind them ("on their backhand") rather than facing the wave ("on their forehand").
   • The morning brought an increased swell; long, perfect, down-the-line, 6-8' freight trains — a forehander's dream and a backhander's nightmare1990, Surfer - Volume 31, Issues 7-12