double-backed

Updated: May 12, 2025

It seems they had started to come down on the same horse, double-backed; and each was accusing the other of being the cause of his fall. They soon, however, turned-in and fell asleep, and probably forgot all about it, for the next morning the dispute was not renewed. The next sound that we heard was ``All hands ahoy! and, looking up the scuttle, saw that it was just daylight.

Richard Henry Dana - Two Years Before the Mast

Only have a special care, and take good heed thou solder well together the joints of the double-backed and two-bellied beast, and fortify thy nerves so strongly, that there be no discontinuance in the knocks of the venerean thwacking, else thou art lost, poor soul.

François Rabelais - Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 3

Thus ended our first liberty-day on shore. We were well tired, but had had a good time, and were more willing to go back to our old duties. About midnight, we were waked up by our two watchmates, who had come aboard in high dispute. It seems they had started to come down on the same horse, double-backed; and each was accusing the other of being the cause of his fall.

Richard Henry Dana - Two Years Before the Mast