1. to wind or coil in the opposite direction; to reverse the winding of something
Usage: transitive verb; technical/mechanical context
2. (nautical) to trim a sail so that the wind strikes it from the opposite side, slowing or reversing a ship's motion
Usage: nautical; transitive verb

Examples

• The mechanic backwinds the spring to reset the mechanism.
• She backwinds the tape to find the beginning of the recording.
• The sailor backwinds the mainsail to slow the vessel's approach to the dock.
• He carefully backwinds the fishing line around the reel.
• The captain ordered the crew to backwind the sails during the storm.