rollback
UK[ˈrəʊlbæk]US[ˈroʊlbæk]
n
A reduction or decrease, especially in prices, rates, or policies, to a previous level.
n
The act of returning to a previous state or condition, especially in computing or politics.
v
To reduce or return something to a previous level or state.
Morpheme Breakdown
roll
back
roll
to move by turning over
back
to a former place or state
Etymology
The word 'rollback' is a modern English compound, formed by combining two native English elements. The verb 'roll', with its ancient Germanic roots implying circular motion or turning, is paired with the directional adverb 'back', from Old English bæc. Literally, the combination suggests the action of turning or moving something backward. This concrete imagery was adopted in the mid-20th century, particularly in political and economic contexts, to metaphorically describe the act of reversing policies or reducing prices to a former level. In computing, it similarly denotes the operation of returning a database or system to a previous state, maintaining the core concept of a reversionary action.
Analysis
Structure: roll (to move by turning over) + back (to a former place or state)
- roll: From Old French roller, roeler, of Germanic origin; related to German rollen. In this compound, it carries the sense of moving or turning something.
- back: From Old English bæc, of Germanic origin. In this compound, it functions as an adverb meaning 'to a former place or state'.
Examples
The government announced a rollback of the recent fuel tax increase.
After the software update caused errors, the IT department performed a system rollback.
The store is having a rollback on all electronics this weekend.