[f. BACK a. + END, in the sense of either extremity. Cf. FORE-END.]
1. Of things with two ends: The hinder or rear end.
a. 1617. Hieron, Wks., II. 114. To put their sinnes into the backe end of the Wallet.
1675. Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, II. i. (1735), 37. At the Back-end of a Lord’s coach.
2. The later part or ‘latter end’ of a season; (absolutely) of the year: The late autumn, the ‘fall.’
1820. Blackw. Mag., Oct., 3/1 (Jam.). When you did us the honour to stop a day or two last back-end.
1860. W. White, Wrekin, 43. In his opinion the ‘backend’ was the best fishing season.
