Crossword Genius

Hard back (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stern

I believe this is a double definition.

'hard' is the first definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'back' is the second definition.
(stern means the back of a boat)

(Other definitions for stern that I've seen before include "Rear; severe, serious" , "Grim; severe" , "Strict, grimly serious" , "having a forbidding appearance" , "Severe, forbidding" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent, The Times and The Guardian.
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