grayback

American  

[grey-bak] / ˈgreɪˌbæk /

noun

1. any of various marine and aquatic animals that are dark gray above and light-colored or white below, as the gray whale, the alewife, certain whitefish, and certain sandpipers.

2. Informal. a Confederate soldier.

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Etymology

Origin of grayback

First recorded in 1805–15; gray ¹ + back ¹

Example Sentences

Here I had the table all set fur breakfast, an' ye put 'er inter a grayback afore I could hold on to anything; and smash goes the hull mess on the floor—plates, forks, vittles.

From Dan Merrithew by McFall, J. V.

I reck'n 'twont be long, now, till yer catches on ter the meanin' ol what a grayback is.

From Si Klegg, Book 1 (of 6) His Transformation From A Raw Recruit To A Veteran by McElroy, John

His eyes traveled up the great rock—in whose cave his companions lay sleeping; as they gained the top of that old grayback, they were confronted by two other eyes—mere twinkling points of flame!

From A Scout of To-day by Hornibrook, Isabel

His last shot was not a bad one, and Tom could not help thinking, if the grayback should hit him, that he would not waste any fine feelings over him.

From The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army A Story of the Great Rebellion by Optic, Oliver

“What d’ye let go fur?” said the grayback, indignantly, as his musket, which he had held by the tip end of the stock, dropped into the water, when Tom let go of the bayonet.

From The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army A Story of the Great Rebellion by Optic, Oliver