English Dictionary: main boom | by the DICT Development Group |
1 result for main boom | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Main \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.] [bd]The main abyss.[b8] --Milton. 3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] [bd]It's a man untruth.[b8] --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}. (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. Syn: Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital. |