hark-back

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See also: hark back

English

Etymology

Deverbal from hark back.

Pronunciation

Noun

hark-back (plural hark-backs)

  1. (hunting) An act of hounds retracing a course in order to pick up the lost scent of prey.
  2. (figuratively) An act of alluding, returning, or reverting (to a subject previously mentioned, etc.); also, an act of evoking, or longing or pining for (a past era or event).
    Synonym: callback
    • 1961 June, “Talking of Trains: Early Timetables – but at a Price”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 325:
      The addendum cancelling the closures refers to 14 pages [] in which Table 183 is reproduced in its old form with connections to and from Liverpool, Bradford, York, Edinburgh etc. – a hark-back to G.C. ambitions.

Alternative forms