saddleback n also attrib OED ~ 4 c (1856) for sense 1; OED 4 b (1847-) for sense 2.
1 Mature harp seal (Phoca groenlandica); SADDLER. Cp SADDLE.
1923 CHAFE 3 The Harp or Saddle Back. 1924 ENGLAND 102 The fourth-year harps are 'black backs.' 'saddle backs,' or'saddlers.' 1937 LUBBOCK 422 At Greenland, the main pack of saddle-backs w as missed. 1966 BEN-DOR 38 The saddleback seal ... is commonly known to the sealers as a 'bedlamer' in its young stage and 'harp' in its later years.
2 Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus); SADDLER.
[1776] 1792 CARTWRIGHT ii, 161 Several saddlebacks and a pair of eagles were seen today. 1819 ANSPACH 391 The most remarkable of the sea-birds which frequent these coasts are. . the saddle-back, called also blackback, the largest species of gulls. 1891 PACKARD 90 ... a pair of saddle-back gulls sailing aloft. 1932 BARBOUR 61 In the evening Ephraim Blackmore called out: 'I can see a "saddle back" coming towards us,' which was a good sign we were getting near the land. That old 'saddle back' certainly cheered us up. In a few hours we saw several and we were very proud to see them, but we could not kill one. 1967 Bk of Nfld iii, 283 Great Black-backed Gull: Saddle Back (from its colouring).
3 Variety of louse (1924 ENGLAND 319).
C 71-113 Graybacks and saddlebacks refer to lice that are spotted and light in colour.
