Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AR-RIERE', n.

The last body of an army; now called rear, which see. Arriere-ban, or ban and arriere ban. This phrase is defined to be a general proclamation of the French kings, by which not only their immediate feudatories, but their vassals, were summoned to take the field for war. In this case, arriere is the French word signifying those who are last, or behind, and ban is proclamation. [See Ban.] Arriere-fee, or fief. A fee or fief dependent on a superior fee, or a fee held of a feudatory. Arriere vassal. The vassal of a vassal.