backwrap

English

Etymology

back- +‎ wrap

Noun

backwrap (countable and uncountable, plural backwraps)

1. A portion of something that is wrapped backward.
   • 1940, Fashions of the Hour, page 27:

     Fresh and cool as a crocus, this pretty dress is designed with a cleverly concealed backwrap.

   • 1971, Textile Industries, volume 135, page 9:

     NEW STRING-UP GUN PREVENTS BACKWRAPS
     Take up yarn at 4,000 meters per minute with high tension that prevents backwraps.

2. (computing, dated) A word wrap feature that restores a word to the preceding line when space is made for it by deletion.

Verb

backwrap (third-person singular simple present backwraps, present participle backwrapping, simple past and past participle backwrapped)

1. To wrap around the back of something.
   • 1999, Leon A. Frechette, Build Smarter with Alternative Materials, page 136:

     After applying insulation boards, adhere reinforcing mesh to the board surface. This mesh must wrap around any exposed edge of the insulation board. (This is called backwrapping.)

   • 2015, Linda Brock, Designing the Exterior Wall:

     The insulation boards should be backwrapped at terminations, with the mesh fully embedded in the base coat.

2. (computing, dated) To restore a word to the preceding line when space is made for it by deletion.
   • 1983, The Seybold Report on Professional Computing, page 19:

     Backwrapping words occurs when enough text is deleted to permit one or more words to be formatted into the shortened line.