mossback

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mossback

/ˈmɒsbæk/ UK
/ˈmɔsˌbæk/ US
/ˈmɑs-/ US

Where it comes from

From moss + back (in senses 1 (“person with old-fashioned views; one who is very conservative or reactionary”) and 2.3 (“fish that is large and old”) probably a variant of mossyback, which is attested earlier), alluding to someone or something that is so old or has remained so unmoving that it is as if moss has grown on them or it.

Sense 2.4 (“largemouth bass”) may refer to the back of the fish being a dark green colour.

noun mossbacks

US, informal Synonym of mossyback (“a person with old-fashioned views; hence, one who is very conservative or reactionary”).
Similar: conservative, reactionary, retrograde, traditionalist, mossyback
US, historical, informal A person who stayed hidden to evade conscription (especially by the Confederate States Army) during the American Civil War (1861–1865); a mossyback.
US A turtle that, because of its age, has a growth of algae on its back
US A common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina).
US Synonym of mossyback (“a fish that is large and old, especially one that has algae growing on its back”).
Similar: mossyback
US A largemouth bass or moss bass (Micropterus salmoides).

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MLA

"mossback." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/mossback. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

mossback. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/mossback

Chicago

"mossback." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/mossback.

BibTeX

@misc{mossback_2026,
  title = {mossback},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/mossback},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}