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

The soldier boy worked his paddle with vigor and skill, and it was astonishing to observe with what better success than when invited to land by the grayback up the river.

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

The silence that followed the words of the boy was broken by Quantrell's old grayback.

From A Man Four-Square by Raine, William MacLeod

Stop him!” replied the grayback on the shore.

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

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

The rains, and sleet, and snow never ceased falling from the winter sky, while the winds pierced the old, ragged, grayback Rebel soldier to his very marrow.

From "Co. Aytch" Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment or, A Side Show of the Big Show by Watkins, Sam R.