backhoe

backhoe

[′bak ‚hō]

(mechanical engineering)

An excavator fitted with a hinged arm to which is rigidly attached a bucket that is drawn toward the machine in operation. Also known as backacter; backdigger; dragshovel; pullshovel.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

backhoe

backhoe attachment on a crane

An excavating machine for cutting trenches; a boom-mounted bucket moves toward the machine, cutting the ground like a hoe; then the machine turns away from the cut to permit the operator to dump the soil.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.