Definition of backhoes:
(n) :
A piece of excavating equipment, either an integral subassembly or an attachment, consisting of a digging bucket or scoop on the end of an articulated arm, drawn backwards to move earth; used in excavator/digger and backhoe tractors.
(v) :
To excavate using such equipment.
(n) :
(chiefly US, Canada, Australia) Ellipsis of backhoe loader: A multi-purpose tractor with a front-mounted loading bucket and a rear-mounted digging bucket. The tractor combines a front-end loader/loader (component) and an excavator/digger (component). [A type of heavy equipment, a wheeled tractor unit with an excavator arm on the back and a payloader attachment on the front, and usually having hydraulic outrigger arms for stabilization. Such tractors frequently have the excavator bucket replaced by other attachments such as a jackhammer, and may have forklift forks replacing the loader bucket attachment.]
(n) :
Ellipsis of backhoe tractor: A specialized tractor with the backhoe subassembly. This type of tractor has been superceded by the backhoe loader and trackhoe in most roles.