Plural of backing; materials placed behind or supporting something, or financial and moral support given to a person or project.
From 'back' (to support) + '-ing' (gerund/noun suffix). The noun emerged from the verb 'to back,' which itself derives from Old English for 'spine' or 'support.'
A movie's success depends on backings—studio backing, investor backing, political backing—and sometimes the backings are worth more than the movie itself.
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