backbone (n.)

• advocate
• alpenstock
• arm
• back
• backing
• bandeau
• bearer
• bottom
• bra
• brace
• bracer
• bracket
• brassiere
• buttress
• cane
• carrier
• cervix
• chutzpah
• corset
• courage
• crook
• crutch
• determination
• firmness
• fortitude
• fulcrum
• gameness
• girdle
• grit
• guts
• gutsiness
• guy
• hardihood
• heart
• jock
• jockstrap
• mainstay
• maintainer
• mast
• mettle
• mettlesomeness
• moxie
• neck
• nerve
• pillar
• pith
• pluck
• pluckiness
• prop
• purposefulness
• rachis
• reinforcement
• reinforcer
• resoluteness
• resolution
• resolve
• rest
• rigging
• sand
• shoulder
• shroud
• spine
• spirit
• sprit
• spunk
• stability
• staff
• stamina
• stave
• stay
• stick
• stiffener
• strength
• strengthener
• sturdiness
• support
• supporter
• sustainer
• toughness
• upholder
• vertebrae
• will