1757 J. Hill lvii. 679 (heading) Green back'd Ornithogalum.
1792 M. Riddell 77 The green-backed cavally (gasterosteus Carolinus Lin.).
1890 L. Ensor tr. A. Daudet iii. vii. 621 This little dingy shop, full of mouldy-smelling, green-backed books.
1911 Z. Grey vii. 81 You green-backed freshman! Shut up! You scrub!
1999 May (Special ed.) 62/2 Sometimes even those green-backed, butter-bellied summer cod..will show.