subs. phr. (colloquial).—1. A hard taskmaster: in quot. = the foreman of a gang of farm labourers; and (2) any task that requires excessive exertion. Hence BACK-BREAKING (adj.) = arduous: also see PHRASES, s.v. BACK.
1867. People’s Magazine, May, 314. 2. He selects one of his gang as BACK-BREAKER.
