society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > navy > a naval force or fleet > [noun] > rear (3)
Military. The part of an army or fleet stationed behind the main body; the third division in a force drawn up for action; = rearguard, n.1 1a. Now…
= rear, n.2 (chiefly in sense 1a).
Military and Navy. The hindmost portion of an army or fleet; that division of a force which is placed, or moves, last in order. Cf. rearguard, n.1…