A strap or band that goes across the back of a harness on a horse, helping to hold the shafts of a wagon or carriage in place.
From Old English 'bæc' (back) + 'band' (a strip or fastening). This word emerged in Middle English around the 13th-14th centuries when horse-drawn vehicles became common, combining the location (back) with the object's function (band/strap).
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