greyback — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A Confederate soldier during the US Civil War (because of the grey uniforms).

   Usage

   • US usage
   • Colloquial
   • Countable
   • Historical
   • Uncountable

   Synonyms

   graycoatgreycoat

   Antonyms

   bluecoatbluebelly

   Examples

   ...to resist the farther advance of the greybacks.

   More examples (1)

   Sheridan managed to keep the graybacks at bay while he tore up the railroad, but he abandoned the plan to link up with Hunter, and the southerners soon repaired the railroad.

2. A Confederate States dollar during the US Civil War.

   Usage

   • US usage
   • Colloquial
   • Countable
   • Historical
   • Uncountable

3. A louse.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Dated
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   It is alleged by the defendant that there were scabs and greybacks in it, and that it did not come up to the quality of No. 1 slate as contracted for.

4. Any of various grey birds.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Regional
   • Uncountable

5. A kind of paperboard with a smooth white surface on one side and a grey surface on the other side.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

6. A Confederate States dollar.

   Usage

   • US usage
   • Countable
   • Historical
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. ‘Johnny’ was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; ‘greyback’ derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

   Synonyms

   RebelRebJohnny RebJohnny

   Broader terms

   Confederate soldier

2. a dowitcher with a grey back

   Synonyms

   graybackLimnodromus griseus

   Broader terms

   dowitcher

3. a sandpiper that breeds in the Arctic and winters in the Southern Hemisphere

   Synonyms

   knotgraybackCalidris canutus

   Broader terms

   sandpiper