Partly or wholly uncleared forest, especially in North America.
A remote or sparsely inhabited region, especially in North America; away from big towns and from the influence of modern life.
1834, David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of, Nebraska, published 1987, page 22:
about that time, you may[…]reckon, if like me you belong to the back-woods, that I began to make up my acquaintance with hard times, and a plenty of them.
1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co.,[…], →OCLC: