firewall

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A security system that controls the traffic coming into and out of a computer network

   The company's firewall blocked the suspicious connection.

2. 2
   noun

   A wall designed to stop fire from spreading through a building or vehicle

   The firewall between the apartments prevented the fire from spreading.

3. 3
   noun

   A barrier that prevents conflicts of interest between two parts of an organization

   The bank set up a firewall between its advisory and trading teams.

From fire + wall. Compare West Frisian brânmuorre, Dutch brandmuur, German Brandmauer, Feuermauer, Swedish brandvägg, brandmur, Icelandic eldvegg. The verb sense for using maximum power or acceleration comes from the engine's firewall being the limit of forward movement of the throttle controls on many simpler vehicles; thus, to get the maximum engine output, one would push the throttle levers or pedal all the way to the firewall. The politics sense is a calque of German Brandmauer.

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