Crossword Genius

Brave tree doctor shows some backbone (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

vertebrae

'some backbone' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'brave tree doctor' is the wordplay.
'doctor' indicates anagramming the letters.
'brave'+'tree'='bravetree'
'bravetree' anagrammed gives 'VERTEBRAE'.

'shows' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for vertebrae that I've seen before include "Backbone segments" , "Bony segments of the spinal column" , "Bones of back" , "Bits of skeleton" , "Bones of the spinal column" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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