An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A device containing a radio-frequency amplifier and associated cryogenic systems, routers, and converters (mixers), whose input is the voltage from a receptor and whose output is an intermediate-frequency signal. → back-end.

Etymology (EN): → front + end, from
O.E. ende, from P.Gmc. *andja, originally “the opposite side,” from PIE *antjo “end, boundary,” from base *anta-/*anti- “opposite, in front of, before.”

Etymology (PE): Piš-tah, from piš, → front, + tah “end;” Mid.Pers. tah “bottom.” The origin of this term is not clear. It may be related to Gk. tenagos “bottom, swamp,” Latvian tigas “depth;” PIE *tenegos “water bottom.”