Search Result for "mainstay": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (3)

1. a prominent supporter;
- Example: "he is a pillar of the community"
[syn: pillar, mainstay]

2. a central cohesive source of support and stability;
- Example: "faith is his anchor"
- Example: "the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"
- Example: "he is the linchpin of this firm"
[syn: anchor, mainstay, keystone, backbone, linchpin, lynchpin]

3. the forestay that braces the mainmast; 



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Mainstay \Main"stay`\, n.
   1. (Naut.) The stay extending from the foot of the foremast
      to the maintop.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Main support; principal dependence.
      [1913 Webster]

            The great mainstay of the Church.     --Buckle.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

mainstay
    n 1: a prominent supporter; "he is a pillar of the community"
         [syn: pillar, mainstay]
    2: 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" [syn:
       anchor, mainstay, keystone, backbone, linchpin,
       lynchpin]
    3: the forestay that braces the mainmast