I. -ˌstäp noun
Date: 1851
1. : something at the back serving as a stop: as
a. : a screen or fence for keeping a ball from leaving the field of play
b. : a stop (as a pawl) that prevents a backward movement (as of a wheel)
2. : a player (as the catcher) positioned behind the batter
II. transitive verb
Date: 1941
1. : support , bolster
2. : to serve as a backstop to
3. : to play the position of goalkeeper for
backstop a hockey team