v. To refill a hole with the material dug out of it.
v. To refill an excavation unit to restore the former ground surface and or to preserve the unit and make it recognizable as having been excavated.
v. To provide reserve support.
v. To replenish or restock due to attrition or loss.
n. The material that has been used to refill an excavation.
n. Reserve support personnel.
n. That which backfills; a replacement.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
In engineering, to fill (a depression) with material taken from a cutting.
Word Usage
"Another performance enhancing "substance" has been less publicly discussed but perhaps just as important, if not more, and that is known as backfill bias."