• back bone

FromMiddle Englishbakbon,bakebon,bac-bon; equivalent toback +‎bone. Compare the semantically analogousEnglishridgebone.

• (UK)IPA^(key):/ˈbækˌbəʊn/
• (US)IPA^(key):/ˈbækˌboʊn/

• Audio(US):

  (file)

• Rhymes:-ækbəʊn,-ækboʊn

backbone (countable anduncountable,pluralbackbones)

1. (countable) The series ofvertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects thespinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back invertebrate animals.
2. (countable,figuratively) Anyfundamentalsupport,structure, orinfrastructure.

   Before automobiles, railroads were abackbone of commerce.

   • 1945 November and December, H. C. Casserley, “Random Reflections on British Locomotive Types—1”, inRailway Magazine, page320:

     Undoubtedly it can be said that the humble 0-6-0 has been thebackbone for general service, or general utility on British railways right from their earliest days, and is likely to remain so.

   • 1959 April, P. Ransome-Wallis, “The Southern in Trouble on the Kent Coast”, inTrains Illustrated, London:Ian Allan Publishing,→ISSN,→OCLC, page212:

     With little regular employment available in East Kent thebackbone of the Kent Coast passenger traffic is therefore the commuters, the not inconsiderable numbers of people who travel each day to their work in Faversham, Sittingbourne, the Medway Towns and most of all, London.

   • 1980,AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 220, aboutHambledon, Hants:

     East [Street] and West Street form a single thoroughfare running as abackbone through the village, flanked by neat, painted cottages of predominantly 18th-century brick.

   • 1989 December 10, John Zeh, “AIDS Groups' Execs Arrested In D.C.”, inGay Community News, volume17, number22, page 1:

     The San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) and other community-based organizations that "providebackbone and leadership" in AIDS services are "reeling under the impact of growing case loads," said Pat Christen, SFAF's new director.

3. (uncountable,figuratively)Courage,fortitude, orstrength.

   He would make a good manager, if he had a little morebackbone.

   • 1899 February,Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, inBlackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […],→OCLC, part I,page207:

     His appearance was certainly that of a hairdresser's dummy; but in the great demoralization of the land he kept up his appearance. That'sbackbone. His starched collars and got-up shirt-fronts were achievements of character. He had been out nearly three years; and, later, I could not help asking him how he managed to sport such linen.

• spine
• spinal column
• vertebral column
• See alsoThesaurus:backbone