From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Backlash \Back"lash'\ (b[a^]k"l[a^]sh'), noun [Back, adverb + lash.]
1. (Mech.) The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.
2. A strong and sudden reverse movement in a moving part of a machine. [PJC]
3. A strong popular reaction serving to counter the effect of an action; -- used especially of adverse reactions to social or political developments. [PJC]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: a movement back from an impact [syn: {recoil}, {repercussion}, {rebound}]
2: an adverse reaction to some political or social occurrence; "there was a backlash of intolerance"
verb
1: have an unexpected and undesired effect; "Your comments may backfire and cause you a lot of trouble" [syn: {backfire}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
61 Moby Thesaurus words for "backlash": antagonism, antipathy, backfire, backlashing, backwash, boomerang, bounce, bounce back, bound, carom, clashing, clout, collision, conflict, confutation, contradiction, contraposition, contrariety, contrecoup, counteraction, counterposition, counterworking, crankiness, crotchetiness, dissent, force, friction, impact, impress, impression, imprint, interference, kick, kick back, kickback, mark, nonconformity, opposition, opposure, oppugnance, oppugnancy, perverseness, print, reaction, rebound, rebuff, recalcitrance, recalcitration, recoil, reflex, renitency, repercussion, repugnance, repulse, resilience, resistance, response, revolt, ricochet, spring, swimming upstream
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