backstop

Meanings

Plural: backstops

Noun

• (baseball) the person who plays the position of catcher
• (baseball) a fence or screen (as behind home plate) to prevent the ball from traveling out of the playing field
• a precaution in case of an emergency
  • "he acted as a backstop in case anything went wrong"
• An object or a person put in the rear or in the back of something to reinforce, hold, support.
• A default arrangement that holds if all else fails.
• A wall or fence behind home plate.
• A catcher; the position of catcher.
• The player who stands immediately behind the striking base.
• The longstop.
• The wicket-keeper.
• Something serving to bolster or support a cover story etc.

Verb

• act as a backstop
• To serve as backstop for.
• To bolster, support.

Synonyms

catcher