mainstay

English

/ˈmeɪn.steɪ/

noun

Definitions

A chief support.
Someone or something that can be depended on to make a regular contribution.
(nautical) A stabilising rope from the top of the mainmast to the bottom of the foremast.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English main stai compound from English main (power, might, force, strength) + English stay (rope, delay, postpone, hold off, a stay, stand).

Origin

English

stay

Gloss

rope, delay, postpone, hold off, a stay, stand

Concept

Semantic Field

Quantity

Ontological Category

Classifier

`Kanji`

縄, 綱

Emoji

🪢

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms

amain English
astay English
babystay English
backstay English
bestay English
buckstay English
chainstay English
farmstay English
forestay English
gainstay English
homestay English
jackstay English
main English
main battle tank English
mainboard English
mainbrace English
mainchain English
maincrop English
maindeck English
mainer English
mainframe English
mainful English
mainland English
mainline English
mainly English
mainmast English
mainpiece English
mainplane English
mainsail English
mainshaft English
mainsheet English
mainshock English
mainspan English
mainspring English
mainstage English
mainstem English
mainstream English
maintop English
maintopmast English
mainyard English
midmain English
misstay English
multistay English
nonmain English
outstay English
overstay English
stay English
stay-stomach English
stayaway English
staybolt English
stayer English
stayest English
stayeth English
staylace English
stayless English
staymaker English
stayover English
staysail English
staystitch English
unstay English
upstay English
withstay English
メイン Japanese
main stai Middle English
mayn Middle English
steyen Middle English
magstay Tagalog
mien Pitcairn-Norfolk