abend vs bitter end

abend

• Termination of a process prior to completion. 

• The abnormal termination of a program. 

• To terminate abnormally. 

bitter end

• The end of a long and difficult process. 

• The final six fathoms of anchor chain before the point of attachment in the chain locker of modern US naval vessels. 

• That part of an anchor cable which is abaft the bitts and thus remains inboard when a ship is riding at anchor.