ligament

plural ligaments

1. anatomyA band of strong tissue that connects bones to other bones.

   Her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) are torn and Vonn has a lateral fracture of the tibial plateau, the upper end of the tibia or shin bone.

   2013 February 6, Jen Christiensen, “Vonn’s injury ‘career-delayer,’ not ‘career ender’”, in CNN

   1 more example

   It so chanced that at this juncture the decayed ligaments of the skeleton gave way, and the dry bones fell together in a heap, thus causing the dusty wreath of cypress to drop upon the table.

   1846, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Christmas Banquet”, in Mosses from an Old Manse

2. figurativelyThat which binds or acts as a ligament.

   1845, Daniel Webster, oration on Justice Joseph Story Justice is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together.

   1 more example

   It remains to mention one consideration which naturally occurred in the reflections upon the expediency of assuming the State Debts. This is its tendency to strengthen our infant Government by increasing the number of ligaments between the Government and the interests of Individuals.

   1795 July 28, Alexander Hamilton, “The Defence of the Funding System”, in Harold C. Syrett, editor, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, volume 19, New York: Columbia University Press, published 1973, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 40