backstair vs backstairs

backstair

adj
  • clandestine, secret or furtive 

noun
  • The backstairs (stairs at the rear of a building). 

backstairs

adj
  • Secret or furtive. 

  • Scandalous. 

noun
  • An indirect or furtive means of access or intercourse. 

  • A staircase at the rear of a building or one normally only used by servants and tradesmen. 

How often have the words backstair and backstairs occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )