Webster's Dictionary 1913

406

Main (4)

Main, adv. [See Main, a.] Very; extremely; as, main heavy. “I'm main dry.” Foote.

407

Main yard

Main″ yard′ (?). (Naut.) The yard on which the mainsail is extended, supported by the mainmast.

408

Main-gauche

Main′–gauche″ (măN′gōsh″), n.(Ancient Armor) The dagger held in the left hand, while the rapier is held in the right; — used to parry thrusts of the adversary's rapier.

409

Main-hamper

Main″–ham′per (?), n. [F. main hand (see Main a hand at dice) + E. hamper.] A hamper to be carried in the hand; a hand basket used in carrying grapes to the press.

410

Maine

Maine (?), n. One of the New England States.Maine law, any law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages, esp. one resembling that enacted in the State of M...

411

Mainland

Main″land′ (?), n. The continent; the principal land; — opposed to island, or peninsula. Dryden.After the two wayfarers had crossed from the peninsula to the mainland. Hawthorne.

412

Mainly

Main″ly (?), adv. [From main strong. See Main strength.] Very strongly; mightily; to a great degree. Bacon. Shak.

413

Mainly (2)

Main″ly, adv. [From main principal, chief.] Principally; chiefly.

414

Mainmast

Main″mast′ (?), n.(Naut.) The principal mast in a ship or other vessel.

415

Mainor

Main″or (?), n. [Anglo-Norm. meinoure, OF. manuevre. See Maneuver.] (O. Eng. Law) A thing stolen found on the person of the thief.☞ A thief was said to be “taken with the mainor...

416

Mainpernable

Main″per‐na‐ble (?), a. [OF. main hand + pernable, for prenable, that may be taken, pregnable. See Mainpernor.] (Law) Capable of being admitted to give surety by mainpernors; ab...

417

Mainpernor

Main″per‐nor (?), n. [OF. main hand + pernor, for preneor, a taker, F. preneur, fr. prendre to take.] (Law) A surety, under the old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's appearanc...

418

Mainpin

Main″pin (?), n.(Vehicles) A kingbolt.

419

Mainprise

Main″prise (?), n. [F. main hand + prise a taking, fr. prendre, p. p. pris to take, fr. L. prehendere, prehensum.] (Law) (a) A writ directed to the sheriff, commanding him to ta...

420

Mainprise (2)

Main″prise, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Mainprised (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Mainprising.] (Law) To suffer to go at large, on his finding sureties, or mainpernors, for his appearance at a day;...

421

Mains

Mains (mānz), n. [Scot. See Manse.] The farm attached to a mansion house.

422

Mainsail

Main″sail′ (mān″sāl′), n.(Naut.) The principal sail in a ship or other vessel.hoised up the mainsail to the wind. Acts xxvii. 40.☞ The mainsail of a ship is extended upon a yard...

423

Mainsheet

Main″sheet′ (?), n.(Naut.) One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and trimmed.

424

Mainspring

Main″spring′ (?), n. The principal or most important spring in a piece of mechanism, especially the moving spring of a watch or clock or the spring in a gunlock which impels the...

425

Mainstay

Main″stay′ (?), n. 1. (Naut.) The stay extending from the foot of the foremast to the maintop.2. Main support; principal dependence.The great mainstay of the Church. Buckle.

426

Mainswear

Main″swear′ (?), v. i. [AS. mānswerian to forswear; mān sin, crime + swerian to swear.] To swear falsely. Blount.

427

Maintain

Main‐tain (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Maintained (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Maintaining.] [OE. maintenen, F. maintenir, properly, to hold by the hand; main hand (L. manus) + F. tenir to ho...

428

Maintainable

Main‐tain″a‐ble (?), a. That may be maintained.

429

Maintainer

Main‐tain″er (?), n. One who maintains.

430

Maintainor

Main‐tain″or (?), n. [OF. mainteneor, F. mainteneur.] (Crim. Law) One who, not being interested, maintains a cause depending between others, by furnishing money, etc., to either...

431

Maintenance

Main″te‐nance (?), n. [OF. maintenance. See Maintain.] 1. The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication.Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor a...

432

Maintop

Main″top′ (?), n.(Naut.) The platform about the head of the mainmast in square-rigged vessels.