Pushback
/ˈpʊʃˌbæk/noun
Resistance to an idea, plan, or action; or a force that pushes something back.
Did you know?The word is a straightforward 20th-century compound, but its emotional power comes from the ancient Germanic root behind push, which is tied to the physical act of thrusting or driving something away.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
*pursian / pusian*
“To thrust, push, or press forward (Germanic precursor of the modern verb)”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*pusjaną
“To push, press, or thrust”
Middle English
ME
pushen
“To shove, thrust, or drive with force”
20th Century
English
pushback
“A response of resistance or opposition; also a physical movement backward under force”
Modern English
English
pushback
“Resistance to an idea, policy, or action; or a mechanical reversal of movement”