The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word PROXIMAL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
R
O
X
I
M
A
L
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "near the end" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case near the end = proximal.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PROXIMAL mean?
PROXIMAL adjective- Closer to the point of attachment or observation.
- Facing toward another tooth. The proximal surfaces of a tooth are those that touch or are close to neighboring teeth.
- Closer to the speaker.