dorsal vs rear

dorsal

adj
  • Relating to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf. 

  • Relating to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping hepatic moss. 

  • Having only one sharp side. 

  • Relating to the top surface of the foot or hand. 

  • Produced using the dorsum of the tongue. 

noun
  • A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, altar, etc. 

  • A sound produced using the dorsum of the tongue. 

  • Any of the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, excluding the ventral scales. 

rear

adj
  • (of eggs) Underdone; nearly raw. 

  • (of meats) Rare. 

  • Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost 

adv
  • early; soon 

noun
  • Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest. 

  • The buttocks or bottom. 

  • The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last in order. 

verb
  • To construct by building; to set up 

  • To rise up on the hind legs 

  • To get angry. 

  • To raise spiritually; to lift up; to elevate morally. 

  • To move; stir. 

  • To place in the rear; to secure the rear of. 

  • To sodomize (perform anal sex) 

  • To breed and raise. 

  • To carve. 

  • To rise high above, tower above. 

  • To raise physically or metaphorically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate. 

  • To bring up to maturity, as offspring; to educate; to instruct; to foster. 

How often have the words dorsal and rear occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )