Meaning
Two linked senses. First, a well-known Jamaican bush medicine — the 'strong back' plant, boiled into a tonic taken to build stamina, ease back pain, and (by reputation) boost male sexual vigour. Second, by extension, physical strength and staying power itself: a man with 'strong back' has energy and endurance, often with a virile connotation.
Examples
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Him a drink strong-back tonic fi energy.
He's drinking strong-back tonic for energy.
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Yuh need strong-back fi dig di whole field.
You need real stamina to dig the whole field.
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Dem seh strong-back good fi di man dem.
They say strong-back is good for the men.
Origin
From 'strong' + 'back'; named for the herb's reputed effect on stamina and the lower back. Compare other 'strength' tonics. See [[bizzy]], [[peanut-punch]].
How it’s used
A stamina bush tonic (reputed aphrodisiac); also physical endurance itself. See [[bizzy]], [[roots-tonic]].