Definition of backstreet

The term "backstreet" originated in the 19th century, when streets that were not main thoroughfares and did not have direct access to the city's central areas were deemed secondary or lesser-used. These lesser-known streets, often isolated from the bustling cityscape, came to be known as "backstreets." The origins of the term are thought to stem from the early use of the term "back" to describe secondary buildings or areas that were situated behind, or at the rear of, a main structure. This use can be traced back to the 16th century, when buildings in London had courtyards that faced onto rear streets, which were often unnamed or simply referred to as "back," "backside," or "behind." As urbanization spread, so too did the use of the term "backstreet," especially in relation to residential areas. In the late 1800s, inner-city slum dwellings and tenement buildings were often located in backstreets, away from the main attractions of the city center, and the term "backstreet area" came to describe low-incoming neighborhoods. In contemporary usage, the term has evolved to define more than just urban communities. Backstreets are now associated with a range of offbeat, out-of-the-way places beyond the more popular and touristy destinations, making it a generic term used to describe an interesting array of locations, such as alternative music venues, local artisan shops, and trendy boutiques, away from the mainstream retailers and eateries. Overall, the use of the term "backstreet" is an evocative and expressive phrase that captures the essence of the hidden, the sinister, and the unconventional, and its enduring popularity reveals our enduring fascination with the lesser-known, alternative cultures that inhabit our urban landscapes.