firewall

Meaning

Noun

1. A fireproof barrier used to prevent the spread of fire between or through buildings, structures, electrical substation transformers, or within an aircraft or vehicle.
2. 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.
3. A hypothetical phenomenon where an observer falling into a black hole encounters high-energy quanta at or near the event horizon.

Verb

1. (transitive) To protect with a firewall.
2. (transitive) To block with a firewall.
3. (intransitive, slang) To use maximum engine power or acceleration.

Synonyms

Chinese wall

insulation board

heat insulating shield

electronic firewall

network firewall

Translations

pare-feu

Firewall

Brandmauer

cortafuegos

Brandwand

firewall

firewall

firewall

mur ignifugé

barrière de sécurité

coupe-feu

cortafuego

جدار ناري

tallafoc

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈfaɪə.wɔəl/

Etymology

Cognate with Western Frisian: brânmuorre

Cognate with Dutch: brandmuur

Cognate with German: Brandmauer

Cognate with Swedish: brandvägg

Cognate with Icelandic: eldvegg

In summary

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.