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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

main \main\ (m[=a]n), n. [F. main hand, L. manus. See {Manual}.]
1. A hand or match at dice. --Prior. --Thackeray.
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2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] --Shak.
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3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice
within given limits, as in the game of hazard.
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4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles
. . . to see a main fought." --Thackeray.
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5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] --Ainsworth.
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Main \Main\, n. [AS. m[ae]gen strength, power, force; akin to
OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. [root]103. See
{May}, v.]
1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in
certain phrases.]
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There were in this battle of most might and main.
--R. of Gl.
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He 'gan advance,
With huge force, and with importable main.
--Spenser.
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2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important
thing. [Obs., except in special uses.]
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Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the
main, and to use the other two . . . but as
supporters. --Bacon.
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3. Specifically:
(a) The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay,
etc.; the high sea; the ocean. "Struggling in the
main." --Dryden.
(b) The continent, as distinguished from an island; the
mainland. "Invaded the main of Spain." --Bacon.
(c) principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser
ones; esp. (Engin.), a principal pipe leading to or
from a reservoir; as, a fire main.
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{Forcing main}, the delivery pipe of a pump.

{For the main}, or {In the main}, for the most part; in the
greatest part.

{With might and main}, or {With all one's might and main},
with all one's strength; with violent effort.
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With might and main they chased the murderous fox.
--Dryden.
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Main \Main\ (m[=a]n), a. [From {Main} strength, possibly
influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf.
{Magnate}.]
1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.]
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That current with main fury ran. --Daniel.
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2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] "The main abyss." --Milton.
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3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man
untruth." --Sir W. Scott.
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4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.;
as, the main reason to go; the main proponent.
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Our main interest is to be happy as we can.
--Tillotson.
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5. Important; necessary. [Obs.]
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That which thou aright
Believest so main to our success, I bring. --Milton.
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{By main force}, by mere force or sheer force; by violent
effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force.
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That Maine which by main force Warwick did win.
--Shak.
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{By main strength}, by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy
weight by main strength.

{Main beam} (Steam Engine), working beam.

{Main boom} (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the
mainsail in a fore and aft vessel.

{Main brace}.
(a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf.
{Counter brace}.
(b) (Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard.

{Main center} (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working
beam or side lever swings.

{Main chance}. See under {Chance}.

{Main couple} (Arch.), the principal truss in a roof.

{Main deck} (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck; the
principal deck.

{Main keel} (Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel,
as distinguished from the false keel.
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Syn: Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.
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Main \Main\, adv. [See {Main}, a.]
Very; extremely; as, main heavy. "I'm main dry." --Foote.
[Obs. or Low]
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