In military contexts, the rear or back portion of an army or formation; the supply and support area behind the front lines.
From French 'arrière' meaning behind or rear, derived from Latin 'ad retro' (to the back). This military term entered English during the medieval period through French military terminology.
Medieval armies used 'arriere' to describe everything behind the fighting front—supply wagons, wounded soldiers, reserves—and military strategists still use this concept today, though they use different words like 'logistics' and 'rear echelon.'
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