Etymology
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backstairs (n.)

"stairs at the back of a structure," 1650s, from back (adj.) + stairs (see stair). Figurative use is attested earlier (1640s).

Entries linking to backstairs

back (adj.)
"being behind, away from the front, in a backward direction," Middle English, from back (n.) and back (adv.); often difficult to distinguish from these when the word is used in combinations. Formerly with comparative backer (c. 1400), also backermore. To be on the back burner in the figurative sense is from 1960, from the image of a cook keeping a pot there to simmer while at work on another concoction at the front of the stove.
stair (n.)
Old English stæger "stair, flight of steps, staircase," from Proto-Germanic *staigri (source also of Middle Dutch stegher, Dutch steiger "a stair, step, quay, pier, scaffold;" German Steig "path," Old English stig "narrow path"), from PIE *steigh- "go, rise, stride, step, walk" (source also of Greek steikhein "to go, march in order," stikhos "row, line, rank, verse;" Sanskrit stighnoti "mounts, rises, steps;" Old Church Slavonic stignati "to overtake," stigna "place;" Lithuanian staiga "suddenly;" Old Irish tiagaim "I walk;" Welsh taith "going, walk, way"). Originally also a collective plural; stairs developed by late 14c.

updated on March 15, 2017

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Definitions of backstairs from WordNet
1
backstairs (n.)
a second staircase at the rear of a building;
2
backstairs (adj.)
secret and sly or sordid; "his low backstairs cunning"- A.L.Guerard;
backstairs gossip
backstairs intimacies
Synonyms: backstair / furtive
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near backstairs

backslash

backslide

backspace

backstabber

backstage

backstairs

backstitch

backstop

backstory

backstreet

backstroke

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