Main brace

Main brace
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.] [1913 Webster]

That current with main fury ran. --Daniel. [1913 Webster]

2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] ``The main abyss.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] ``It's a man untruth.'' --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.; as, the main reason to go; the main proponent. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Our main interest is to be happy as we can. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]

5. Important; necessary. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{By main force}, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force. [1913 Webster]

That Maine which by main force Warwick did win. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{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. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • main brace — noun the brace attached to the main yard of a sailing ship. Phrases splice the main brace historical (in the navy) serve out an extra tot of rum. [perh. from the issue of a tot of rum after the actual splicing of the main brace.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • main brace — noun Etymology: Middle English mayne brase, from mayne, mayn main + brase, brace brace more at brace 1. : the brace attached to a sailing ship s main yard 2. : the brace that transmits the load most directly from one of its terminal joints to the …   Useful english dictionary

  • main brace — Naut. a brace leading to a main yard. [1480 90] * * * …   Universalium

  • main|brace — …   Useful english dictionary

  • main-brace — …   Useful english dictionary

  • splice the main brace — historical (in the navy) serve out an extra tot of rum. [perh. from the issue of a tot of rum after the actual splicing of the main brace.] → main brace …   English new terms dictionary

  • splice the main brace — ► splice the main brace Brit. historical (in the navy) serve out an extra tot of rum. Main Entry: ↑splice …   English terms dictionary

  • To splice the main brace — Splice Splice (spl[imac]s), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Spliced} (spl[imac]st); p. pr. & vb. n. {Splicing}.] [D. splitsen, splitten; akin to G. splissen, Sw. splissa, Dan. splisse, and E. split; from the dividing or splitting the ends into separate… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • main-brace, splice the —  Drink. Distribute drink …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • 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.] [1913 Webster] That current with main fury ran. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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