'backfurrow' originates from English, formed by the compound of 'back' (Old English 'bæc', meaning 'back') and 'furrow' (Old English 'forh/foru', meaning 'track, trench' or 'groove').

'back' comes from Old English 'bæc' and remained largely unchanged; 'furrow' comes from Old English forms such as 'forh' or 'foru' and developed into Middle English 'forow'/'furwe' before becoming modern 'furrow'; the compound 'back-furrow' is a descriptive agricultural formation in Modern English.

Originally the components simply meant 'back' and 'groove/trench'; over time the compound came to denote specifically the rear or trailing furrow produced in ploughing, retaining a literal agricultural sense.