backslash

[bak-slash] /ˈbækˌslæʃ/

noun

a short oblique stroke (\): used in some computer operating systems to mark the division between a directory and a subdirectory, as in typing a path.

Examples from the web for backslash

Note that the starting double backslash is required.
To search for a string that contains one of these characters, precede the character with a backslash.
The individual character is preceded by a backslash character rather than enclosing the entire string in double quotes.

British Dictionary definitions for backslash

backslash

noun

a slash which slopes to the left \

Word Origin and History for backslash

1982, new punctuation symbol introduced for computer purposes, from back (adj.) + slash (n.).

backslash in Technology

character
"\" ASCII code 92. Common names: escape (from C/Unix); reverse slash; slosh; backslant; backwhack. Rare: bash; ITU-T: reverse slant; reversed virgule; INTERCAL: backslat.
Backslash is used to separate components in MS-DOS pathnames, and to introduce special character sequence in C and Unix strings, e.g. "\n" for newline.
(2000-02-21)