a firm upright support for a superstructure
an ornamental column or shaft
anything like a pillar in shape
a pillar of cloud
a person perceived as a prop or mainstay of their class, group, etc
We are peers of highest station, paragons of legislation, pillars of the British nation — W S Gilbert
a solid mass of coal, ore, etc left standing to support a mine roof
from pillar to post
from one place or one situation to another
[originally in the form from post to pillar, which was probably reversed to suit a rhyme. The phrase is thought to be a metaphor from the bouncing and rebounding of the ball in real tennis.]pillared adj
[Middle English via Old French from medieval Latin pilare, from Latin pila]