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(), n.[F. main hand, L. manus. See Manual.] 1. A hand or match at dice. Prior. Thackeray. 2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] Shak. 3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard. 4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought." Thackeray. 5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] Ainsworth. Main n.[AS. mgen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. . See May, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.] There were in this battle of most might and main. R. of Gloucester. He 'gan advance, With huge force, and with importable main. Spenser. 2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.] Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters. Bacon. 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. Forcing main, the delivery pipe of a pump. For the main, or In the main, for the most Main (), a.[From Main strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. Magnate.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.] That current with main fury ran. Daniel. 2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] "The main abyss." Milton. 3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." Sir W. Scott. 4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc. Our main interest is to be happy as we can. Tillotson. 5. Important; necessary. [Obs.] That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring. Milton. By main force, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force. That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. Shak. 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. Main adv.[See Main, a.] Very; extremely; as, main heavy. "I'm main dry." Foote. [Obs. or Low] スポンサード リンク
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