mainstay

main·stay

M0045200 (mān′stā′)n.1. A chief support: Agriculture is a mainstay of the economy.2. Nautical A stay running forward from the mainmast to the deck of a sailing vessel.

mainstay

(ˈmeɪnˌsteɪ) n1. (Nautical Terms) nautical the forestay that braces the mainmast2. a chief support

main•stay

(ˈmeɪnˌsteɪ)

n. 1. a person or thing that acts as a chief support or part. 2. the stay that secures the mainmast forward. [1475–85]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	mainstay - a prominent supporter; "he is a pillar of the community"pillaradmirer, booster, protagonist, supporter, champion, friend - a person who backs a politician or a team etc.; "all their supporters came out for the game"; "they are friends of the library"
	2.	mainstay - a central cohesive source of support and stability; "faith is his anchor"; "the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"; "he is the linchpin of this firm"backbone, keystone, linchpin, lynchpin, anchorsupport - something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest; "the policy found little public support"; "his faith was all the support he needed"; "the team enjoyed the support of their fans"
	3.	mainstay - the forestay that braces the mainmastforestay - an adjustable stay from the foremast to the deck or bowsprit; controls the bending of the mast

mainstay

noun pillar, backbone, bulwark, prop, anchor, buttress, lynchpin, chief support Fish and rice were the mainstays of their diet.

Translations