backplate
|back-plate|
/ˈbækˌpleɪt/
rear flat mounting plate
Etymology
'backplate' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the words 'back' and 'plate'. 'back' comes from Old English 'bæc' meaning 'rear, back', and 'plate' comes via Old French 'plate' (from Medieval Latin 'plata') meaning 'flat piece' or 'metal sheet'.
'backplate' is a relatively recent compound in English created by joining 'back' + 'plate' to describe a plate located at the back of an object. 'back' evolved from Old English 'bæc', while 'plate' passed into English from Old French 'plate' and Medieval Latin 'plata'; the compound usage became common with industrial and mechanical technology in the 19th–20th centuries.
Initially the components meant 'rear' ('back') and 'flat piece/sheet' ('plate'); the compound's meaning — 'a plate at the rear used for support or mounting' — is a straightforward, literal combination and has remained largely stable.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a flat plate attached to the rear of a device, structure, or assembly, used for support, mounting, or protection.
The technician removed the backplate to access the internal wiring.
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Noun 2
in scuba diving and some harness systems, the metal (or rigid) plate that sits against the diver's back and provides attachment points for the tank and harness (often called a 'backplate' in 'backplate and wing' systems).
He upgraded to a stainless-steel backplate for better stability while diving.
Synonyms
Noun 3
in computing/electronics, the plate or panel at the rear of a chassis or device that provides openings or mounts for connectors, ports, or components (sometimes called an I/O backplate or rear mounting plate).
Make sure the motherboard's I/O backplate is aligned before installing the case fans.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/26 22:34