firewall

Meanings

Noun

• A fireproof barrier used to prevent the spread of fire between or through buildings, structures, electrical substation transformers, or within an aircraft or vehicle.
• The software that monitors traffic in and out of a private network or a personal computer and allows or blocks such traffic depending on its perceived threat.
• A hypothetical phenomenon where an observer falling into a black hole encounters high-energy quanta at or near the event horizon.

Verb

• To protect with a firewall.
• To block with a firewall.
• To use maximum acceleration.

Origin

• From fire + wall. Compare West Frisian brânmuorre, Dutch brandmuur, German Brandmauer, Feuermauer, Swedish brandvägg, brandmur, Icelandic eldvegg.