Crossword Genius

Harvester in back-breaking exercise? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reaper

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'harvester' is the definition.
(I know that harvester can be written as reaper)

'back-breaking exercise?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'exercise?' could be 'pe' (Physical Education) and 'pe' is present in the answer.
'back' could be 'rear' (something's rear is its back) and 'rear' is located in the remaining letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for reaper that I've seen before include "Death is described as a grim one" , "Farm machine (possibly grim?)" , "Harvester of, eg, 4 dn" , "Farm worker" , "Crop harvester" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph, The Times and The Sun.
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