backfire

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired
noun a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine
noun a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path

From back + fire.

Mortal men are liable to motor accidents; even king's cars have backfired; but it seems strange that actor-managers are not specially exempt from these occurrences. — Happy Days, A. A. (Alan Alexander) Milne

blowback

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning