backwater

noun

1. The water held back by a dam or other obstruction.

   “[…] The backwater separates the main line from Hinksey marshalling yards”

2. (figuratively, idiomatic, usually)A remote place: somewhere that remains unaffected by new events, progresses, ideas, etc; any field of endeavor that figuratively resembles such a place.

   “Near-synonyms: (place) jerkwater town, one-horse town, Podunk; see also Thesaurus:remote place”

   “an academic backwater”

   “Usually, however, this line, which once had a monopoly of all the traffic to Bournemouth, is a quiet backwater carrying a purely local traffic.”

   “It's a volume for those who delight in exploring the backwaters of nineteenth-century opera.”

   “Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.”

3. A rowing stroke in which the oar is pushed forward to stop the boat; see back water
4. Water used in the papermaking process. Recycled to reduce usage of fresh water, and usually containing residual amounts of chemicals and fibres.

   “The back-water (overflow) can be used for "thinning down" the chests when emptying. If "Wastive" does this, his mind will be at ease regarding waste of pulp, and his machine-men will be happy and do their work much better than by trying to use all the back-water on the paper machine.”

verb

1. To row or paddle a backwater stroke.
2. (idiomatic)To vacillate on a long-held position.

name

1. A locality in the Armidale council area, north-eastern New South Wales, Australia.