A rush or surge of movement going backward, often used to describe water moving back toward the sea or crowds moving in reverse.
Compound of 'back' and 'rush' (Old Norse origin, meaning to move quickly). Developed as a descriptive term for rapid backward motion.
Beach lifeguards are trained extensively to recognize backrush patterns because undertow (the water rushing back after a wave) is responsible for more swimmer rescues than any other water hazard, yet people often mistake it for drowning.
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