backland
|back-land|
/ˈbæk.lænd/
rear land; remote interior
Etymology
'backland' originates from Old English elements 'bæc' and 'land', where 'bæc' meant 'back' or 'rear' and 'land' meant 'land'.
'backland' formed as a compound in Middle English (compare forms like 'backe land') and developed into the single-word modern English 'backland'.
Initially, it meant 'land at the back (of a settlement) or rear land', but over time it evolved into its current usage referring more broadly to 'remote or sparsely populated interior regions'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a remote or sparsely populated inland region; the interior away from coasts or developed areas.
The explorers crossed the backland in search of new routes.
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Noun 2
land situated at the rear of a settlement or cultivated area; land behind more developed or inhabited zones (often used historically or in literary contexts).
Stories from the backland painted a picture of a harsh, isolated life.
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Last updated: 2025/12/26 13:42