main1
adj.
chief in size or importance.
n.
- a principal pipe carrying water or gas or a cable carrying electricity.
▸
(the mains)
Brit. the source of public water, gas, or electricity supply through pipes or cables.
-
(the main)
archaic or literary the open ocean.
- Nautical short for mainsail or mainmast.
Phrase
- by main force
through sheer strength. - in the main
on the whole.
Etymology
ME: from OE mægen ‘physical force’, reinforced by ON meginn, megn ‘strong, powerful’, both from a Gmc base meaning ‘have power’.
main2
n.
- (in the game of hazard) a number (5, 6, 7, 8, or 9) called by a player before dice are thrown.
- historical a match between fighting cocks.
Etymology
C16: prob. from the phr. main chance.