In Appalachian and Southern speech, "rear end" means the backside or buttocks. It’s a polite, family-friendly way of talking about someone’s backside, often used in scolding or joking.
We always heard 'tail' or 'rear end' growin' up, and it's still common in the summer today.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We always heard 'tail' or 'rear end' growin' up, and it's still common in the summer today.
Pronunciation
[REER end]
Meaning & Usage
- The backside; buttocks (noun)
At the ballgame
Mae:
Where’d he land?
Earl:
Flat on his rear end.
- A scolding term in family talk (figurative)
At the house
Mae:
Kids still runnin’ wild?
Earl:
Yep, and I told ’em to sit their rear ends down.
★ "Rear end" is the go-to polite version of "butt." Parents and grandparents use it to scold kids without cussing, but it can also show up jokingly between adults. ★
Origin and Etymology
From "rear" (the back) and "end" (the farthest part). It spread widely in American English, but in the South and Appalachia it became part of the stock set of family-friendly words for the backside.
Usage Notes
Common everywhere in the U.S., but especially familiar in Southern and Appalachian households. Often overlaps with related terms like hind end and tail.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "rear end." In country talk it often runs together: "rear’n."
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
We always heard 'tail' or 'rear end' growin' up, and it's still common in the summer today. 
