Toward the rear (3)
I believe the answer is:
aft
'toward the rear' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for aft that I've seen before include "near the tail" , "Farther back on board" , "Of ship, fat in the rear" , "Towards the stern of a boat" , "Near the stern" .)