back-talkn.
colloquial, originally dialect.
= back-chat n.; a retort or reply which is regarded as superfluous or impertinent.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > answer > [noun] > regarded as impertinent
back-answer1626
back-talk1858
back-chat1901
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [noun] > speech
sauce malapert1529
petulancea1652
jaw1748
snash1786
slack-jaw1797
slang1805
gob1807
lip1821
cheek1825
slack1825
sass1841
back-talk1858
back sass1883
mouth1891
slack lip1899
back-chat1901
chin1902
slop1952
1858 Dialogue in Ulster Jrnl. Archæol. 6 41 Oh, indeed 'twas yerself 'at begun it, So A'll give ye back-talk till ye're tired.
1880 W. H. Patterson Gloss. Words Antrim & Down Back talk, saucy replies from a child or an inferior.
1887 J. D. Billings Hardtack & Coffee (1888) 150 Back talk,..which..means answering a superior officer insolently, was a prolific cause for punishments.
1888 Harper's Mag. Nov. 972/1 That'll do, my friend, I don't want no back talk.
1899 R. Kipling Stalky & Co. 204 I've heard more back-talk since this volunteerin' nonsense began than I've heard in a year in the service.
1902 G. H. Lorimer Lett. Merchant (1903) xiii. 177 That order for a car-load of Spotless Snow Leaf from old Shorter is the kind of back talk I like.
1921 G. O'Donovan Vocations viii ‘'Twas enough to disturb any girl,’ her mother said... ‘I'm off communion myself this morning, with all the back talk I had with your father over it last night.’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
back-talkv.
/ˈbaktɔːk/, U.S. /ˈbækˌtɔk/, /ˈbækˌtɑk/ Chiefly U.S.
intransitive. To talk back to a person, esp. in an insolent manner. Also transitive. Cf. back-chat vb. at back-chat n. Derivatives.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > be or become impudent [verb (intransitive)] > use impudent language
to have drunk of sauce's cup?1499
to have eaten sauce?1499
snash1802
to give cheek1825
sass1866
to talk back1869
back-chat1927
back-talk1934
1934 Boys' Life May 24/4 No one will obey without force. They back-talk, talk sarcastically, etc.
1961 A. Ginsberg Kaddish & Other Poems 42 Backtalk to the sun.
1962 Listener 23 Aug. 295/3 They see themselves in the big money in New York, back-talking to the crowd while they rake in the dollars.
1982 A. Walker Color Purple 34 He say, I tell her one thing, she do another. Never do what I say. Always backtalk.
1991 R. R. McCammon Boy's Life iii. 40 ‘Yes you did,’ he shouted. ‘Don't you backtalk me.’
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1858
v.1934