backsight

English

Etymology

From back +‎ sight.

Noun

backsight (plural backsights)

1. The rear sight of a firearm.
2. (surveying) A measurement or reading taken back towards a point of known elevation, used to calculate the height of the surveying instrument (theodolite, transit, total station).
3. (surveying) A measurement of a previously shot point, used to set the angle to zero when occupying a new position.

Derived terms

• blow a backsight

Translations

The rear sight of a firearm

• Bulgarian: мерник (bg) (mernik)

Verb

backsight (third-person singular simple present backsights, present participle backsighting, simple past and past participle backsighted)

1. (surveying) To shoot a backsight.

See also

• foresight
• hindsight