backbone

English

/ˈbækˌbəʊn/, /ˈbækˌboʊn/

noun

Definitions

The series of vertebrae, separated by disks, that encloses and protects the spinal cord, and runs down the middle of the back in vertebrate animals.
(figuratively) Any fundamental support, structure, or infrastructure.
(figuratively) Courage, fortitude, or strength.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English bakbon compound from English back (mild drink, back, chaser) + English bone.

Origin

English

bone

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

aback English
anklebone English
armbone English
arrowback English
assback English
back English
back fire English
back forty English
back seat English
back-annotation English
back-butt English
back-formation English
back-ganging English
back-hand English
back-reference English
back-seat English
back-spelling English
backable English
backache English
backaction English
backake English
backal English
backarapper English
backarc English
backative English
backball English
backband English
backbeat English
backbench English
backbend English
backblast English
backblock English
backboard English
backbond English
backboned English
backboneless English
backbonelessness English
backbore English
backbox English
backbreaker English
backbreaking English
backbulge English
backburn English
backburner English
backcalculate English
backcalculation English
backcard English
backcare English
backchain English
backchannel English
backchat English
backcheck English
backcloth English
backcomb English
backcountry English
backcourt English
backcrawl English
backcross English
backcrossing English
backdam English
backdate English
backdonation English
backdown English
backdraft English
backdraught English
backdrivable English
backdrop English
backend English
backer English
backest English
backface English
backfall English
backfat English
backfield English
backfile English
backfill English
backfin English
backfist English
backfit English
backflash English
backflip English
backflop English
backflow English
backflowing English
backflush English
backfolded English
backfoot English
backformation English
backfriend English
backgain English
backgame English
backgate English
backglass English
backgrinding English
background English
backhand English
backhanded English
backhaul English
backhead English
backheel English
backhoe English
backhouse English
backie English
backing English
backjoint English
backjump English
backjumping English
backland English
backlash English
backlayering English
backlead English
backless English
backlift English
backlight English
backline English
backlining English
backlink English
backlist English
backlit English
backload English
backloading English
backlog English
backlot English
backman English
backmarker English
backmasked English
backmasking English
backmost English
backmutation English
backness English
backoff English
backorder English
backover English
backpack English
backpaddle English
backpatch English
backpay English
backpedal English
backpiece English
backplane English
backplate English
backport English
backpressure English
backprint English
backprojection English
backpropagate English
backpropagation English
backquote English
backreact English
backreacting English
backreaction English
backread English
backreef English
backreference English
backrest English
backroll English
backroom English
backrub English
backsaw English
backscarp English
backscattering English
backscene English
backscratch English
backscratcher English
backscreen English
backscroll English
backseat English
backset English
backsettler English
backshell English
backshift English
backshine English
backshoot English
backshop English
backshore English
backshot English
backside English
backsie English
backsies English
backsight English
backslab English
backslang English
backslap English
backslash English
backslide English
backslope English
backsolution English
backsolve English
backsource English
backspace English
backspike English
backspin English
backsplash English
backsplit English
backstab English
backstabber English
backstage English
backstair English
backstairs English
backstay English
backstep English
backstepping English
backstitch English
backstock English
backstop English
backstore English
backstory English
backstraight English
backstrap English
backstream English
backstreet English
backstress English
backstretch English
backstroke English
backswamp English
backswept English
backswimmer English
backswimming English
backswing English
backsword English
backtab English
backtag English
backtalk English
backtest English
backtesting English
backtick English
backtime English
backtrace English
backtrack English
backtrail English
backtransformed English
backtroll English
backup English
backveld English
backward English
backwash English
backwasher English
backwashing English
backwater English
backway English
backweight English
backwind English
backwood English
backwoods English
backword English
backwork English
backworm English
backyard English
barback English
bareback English
barebone English
blackback English
bladebone English
blowback English
blueback English
bonable English
bone English
boneache English
bonebed English
bonedigger English
bonedog English
bonedome English
bonefish English
bonefolder English
bonehead English
boneheaded English
bonehouse English
bonejarring English
boneless English
bonelet English
bonelike English
boner English
boneseed English
boneseeker English
boneset English
bonesetter English
bonesetting English
boneshaker English
boneshaking English
boneyard English
bonfire English
bony English
bounceback English
breakbone English
breastbone English
brokeback English
browbone English
brownback English
bruckback English
brushback English
buyback English
callback English
camelback English
canvasback English
carryback English
chairback English
chargeback English
checkback English
cheekbone English
chickenboner English
clawback English
clothback English
collarbone English
comeback English
cook back English
copyback English
cornerback English
countback English
crackback English
crookback English
crossback English
cutback English
cuttlebone English
databack English
debone English
diamondback English
dieback English
dogbone English
dragonbone English
drawback English
earbone English
echoback English
failback English
fatback English
faxback English
featherback English
featherbone English
feedback English
fiddleback English
fightback English
finback English
fingerbone English
fireback English
fishbone English
flareback English
flashback English
flatback English
flatbacker English
flyback English
foamback English
foldback English
footbone English
fullback English
goback English
goldback English
goldenback English
greenback English
greenbone English
greyback English
hackleback English
hairyback English
halfback English
hambone English
handback English
hardback English
hatchback English
heelbone English
herringbone English
highback English
hogback English
holdback English
hopback English
horseback English
houseback English
humpback English
intrabone English
jawbone English
keelback English
kickback English
knitback English
knitbone English
knockback English
knucklebone English
laceback English
ladderback English
layback English
lazyback English
leaseback English
leatherback English
legbone English
liftback English
linkback English
loan-back English
loanback English
lobsterback English
look-back English
loopback English
marrowbone English
midback English
moneyback English
mossback English
mossyback English
muleback English
neckbone English
netback English
nonback English
nonbone English
notchback English
outback English
paperback English
payback English
pickleback English
pimpleback English
pinback English
pingback English
pitchback English
playback English
plugback English
ponyback English
postback English
pressback English
prickleback English
pullback English
pushback English
putback English
quarterback English
quillback English
racerback English
rakeback English
razorback English
readback English
reback English
redback English
redbone English
rentback English
ridgeback English
ridgebone English
ringback English
ringbone English
rollback English
rosinback English
roundback English
runback English
rustyback English
saddleback English
scaleback English
scratchback English
screwback English
scrollback English
seatback English
sellback English
sharebone English
shellback English
shieldback English
shinbone English
shoulder bone English
sidebone English
silverback English
singback English
skewback English
skullbone English
slapback English
slatback English
slingback English
slotback English
slowback English
snapback English
snatchback English
softback English
sowback English
spadebone English
spillback English
spinback English
spineback English
splashback English
stackback English
steelback English
stepback English
stitch-back English
stitchback English
storeback English
strongback English
sunback English
swartback English
swayback English
sweepback English
sweptback English
switchback English
tailback English
tailbone English
talkback English
thighbone English
thornback English
throwback English
tieback English
towback English
traceback English
trackback English
turnback English
turtleback English
unback English
unbone English
underback English
underbone English
upback English
wartyback English
washback English
whaleback English
whalebone English
wheatback English
wheelback English
whiteback English
wingback English
wishbone English
wristbone English
writeback English
yellow bone English
yellowback English
schön German
back French
beque Portuguese
*hrugjabainą Proto-Germanic
back Swedish
バック Japanese
バックシャン Japanese
hryċġbān Old English
bak Middle English
bakbon Middle English
bon Middle English
rygge-bone Middle English
bakke Danish
back Czech
bek Indonesian
batchi Norman
бек Macedonian
bonke Western Frisian
rêch Western Frisian
rêchbonke Western Frisian
hregbēn Old Frisian
bom Volapük
bek Papiamentu
bekim Tok Pisin
bun Tok Pisin
baka Sranan Tongo
baik Torres Strait Creole
bon Torres Strait Creole