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Glite Dictionary
🚪 A rear staircase 🤫 Secret and dishonest
backstairs

backstairs

7.5
A staircase at the back of a building that servants use to move quietly
  • noun
  • /ˈbækˌstɛrz/
translation icon : escalera de servicio
  • The servants used the backstairs to move quietly between floors.

Examples

  • The backstairs were used by the staff to avoid the guests.

  • She took the backstairs to reach the kitchen quickly.

  • Renovations uncovered the old backstairs hidden behind a false wall.

  • She slipped down the backstairs to avoid being seen by the guests.

  • The staff used the backstairs to quietly move between the floors without disturbing the guests.

  • After the party, the caterers took the backstairs to avoid the crowd in the main entrance.

  • The old mansion had a backstairs that led directly to the kitchen for easy access.

Synonyms

stairway
vsbackstairs
54 1.0

A set of steps that people use to go between floors in a building

is located at the rear and often used by servants or for informal access
flight of stairs
vsbackstairs
41 1.6

A set of steps between two floors of a building

is positioned at the back and used for servants or less formal access

Surface Forms

backstairs singular
backstairs plural

Morphology

backstairs = back + stairs (transparent) = back + stairs

The meaning is directly derived from the literal meanings of 'back' and 'stairs', indicating stairs located at the back of a building.

Etymology

Backstairs comes from back ('rear') and stairs ('steps'), and it names the hidden steps at the back of a house that servants used to move quietly. So a backstairs is a staircase at the back of a building.