Bent backward

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
adj. bent or curved backward [syn: retroflexed ] pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back toward the hard palate [syn: cacuminal ]

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1776, from Modern Latin retroflexus , past participle of retroflectere "to bend back," from retro (see retro- ) + flectere "to bend" (see flexible ). The verb (1898) is a back-formation from retroflexed (1806), from the adjective.

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
a. 1 bent or curved backwards. 2 (context phonetics English): Of pronunciation in which the tip of the tongue is raised and bent backwards, so that the underside of the tongue is behind the alveolar ridge or touches the palate. n. (context linguistics English) ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Retroflex \Re"tro*flex\, Retroflexed \Re"tro*flexed\, a. [Pref. retro- + L. flectere, flexum, to bend, to turn.] Reflexed; bent or turned abruptly backward.