3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Backbone  \Back"bone"\,  n.  [2d  back,n.+  bone.  ] 
  1.  The  column  of  bones  in  the  back  which  sustains  and  gives 
  firmness  to  the  frame;  the  spine;  the  vertebral  or  spinal 
  column. 
 
  2.  Anything  like  or  serving  the  purpose  of  a  backbone. 
 
  The  lofty  mountains  on  the  north  side  compose  the 
  granitic  axis,  or  backbone  of  the  country.  --Darwin. 
 
  We  have  now  come  to  the  backbone  of  our  subject. 
  --Earle. 
 
  3.  Firmness;  moral  principle;  steadfastness. 
 
  Shelley's  thought  never  had  any  backbone.  --Shairp. 
 
  {To  the  backbone},  through  and  through  thoroughly;  entirely. 
  ``Staunch  to  the  backbone.''  --Lord  Lytton. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  backbone 
  n  1:  a  central  cohesive  source  of  support  and  stability:  "faith 
  is  his  anchor";  "he  is  the  linchpin  of  this  firm"  [syn: 
  {anchor},  {mainstay},  {linchpin},  {lynchpin}] 
  2:  (informal)  fortitude;  "he  didn't  have  the  guts  to  try  it" 
  [syn:  {grit},  {guts},  {sand},  {gumption}] 
  3:  the  series  of  vertebrae  forming  the  axis  of  the  skeleton  and 
  protecting  the  spinal  cord;  "the  fall  broke  his  back" 
  [syn:  {spinal  column},  {vertebral  column},  {spine},  {back}] 
  4:  a  computer  network  that  connects  other  computer  networks 
 
  From  The  Free  On-line  Dictionary  of  Computing  (13  Mar  01)  [foldoc]: 
 
  backbone 
 
    The  top  level  in  a  hierarchical  {network}.  {Stub 
  networks}  and  {transit  networks}  which  connect  to  the  same 
  backbone  are  guaranteed  to  be  interconnected. 
 
  See  also:  {Internet  backbone}. 
 
  (1998-07-02) 
 
 

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