Definition of: backlash

(bak′lash′) noun
1. Mech. a The reaction or tendency to jar or recoil, as machinery subjected to sudden strain, b The amount of loose play in a part subject to such tendency or reaction.
2. In angling, a snarl or tangle of the line on a reel, as caused by a faulty cast.
3. A sudden, violent recoil or reaction, as of public opinion.