Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The act of holding back.
  • noun Something held back.
  • noun A device that retains or restrains.
  • noun A strap or an iron catch between the shaft and the harness on a drawn wagon, allowing the horse to stop or back up.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Check; hindrance; restraint.
  • noun The iron or strap on the shaft or pole of a vehicle to which the breeching or backing-gear is attached.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Check; hindrance; restraint; obstacle.
  • noun The projection or loop on the thill of a vehicle. to which a strap of the harness is attached, to hold back a carriage when going down hill, or in backing; also, the strap or part of the harness so used.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun restraint (act or result of holding back, device that restrains)
  • noun The projection or loop, on the thill of a vehicle, to which a strap of the harness is attached, to hold back a carriage when going downhill, or in backing.
  • noun The strap or part of the harness so used.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb refrain from doing
  • verb keep under control; keep in check
  • verb secure and keep for possible future use or application
  • verb wait before acting
  • verb hold back; keep from being perceived by others
  • verb hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Find out the dealer holdback, which is often substantial.

    My CarsDirect Experience Michael Arrington 2005

  • We feel confident about this receivable as it's with a low-risk client and equates to just a 4% holdback, which is typical for the U.S. government contracts.

    unknown title 2011

  • Frontier Airlines said it filed for protection under Chapter 11 after an "unexpected attempt" by its principal credit-card processor to substantially increase a "holdback" of customer receipts threatened to severely impact liquidity.

    A Deployment Debate 2008

  • Frontier says the vendor, First Data Corp., suddenly said it would be increasing the "holdback" rate of proceeds to 100% from 45%.

    Frontier to Fly Amid Bankruptcy Filing 2008

  • It said an "unexpected attempt" by its principal credit-card processor to substantially increase a "holdback" of customer receipts threatened Frontier's liquidity.

    General Hospital 2008

  • It said an "unexpected attempt" by its principal credit-card processor to substantially increase a "holdback" of customer receipts threatened Frontier's liquidity.

    General Disappointment 2008

  • $38 Billion in House In the letter, the managers said Crusader implemented a similar "holdback" earlier this year for redemption requests submitted by the end 2007.

    Highland to Pay in Stages 2008

  • He wants "holdback" evidence to confirm suspects and eliminate false leads and confessions.

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

  • He wants "holdback" evidence to confirm suspects and eliminate false leads and confessions.

    canada.com Top Stories 2010

  • What CAFNE does is act as a third-party that manages these receivables until it has been paid, and advances money - after holding back a portion of the invoice that in part acts as a collateral or "holdback" and in part pays to service the lenders financing and other administration fees - to the producers group.

    NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - Eradicating Poverty through Profit 2010

Comments

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  • "A strap or an iron catch between the shaft and the harness on a drawn wagon, allowing the horse to stop or back up." --AHD

    April 12, 2012