Meaning
A hard-shelled beetle — the tough, clattering brown or black beetles that fly at the lights at night and land with a hard tick. From this, 'hardback' also became a figurative word for a fully grown, hardened adult, especially a grown man: a 'hardback man' is an able-bodied adult who should know better or fend for himself, not a helpless child.
Examples
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A hardback beetle fly inna di light.
A hard-shelled beetle flew at the light.
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Yuh a big hardback man, mind yuhself.
You're a grown man; take care of yourself.
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Di hardback bang gainst di window.
The beetle banged against the window.
Origin
From 'hard' + 'back' (hard shell) + 'beetle'; also figuratively a grown, hardened adult. See [[peenie-wallie]], [[duck-ants]].
How it’s used
A hard-shelled beetle; figuratively a grown 'hardback' adult/man. See [[peenie-wallie]], [[god-horse]].