n.

1. A chief support: Agriculture is a mainstay of the economy.
2. Nautical. A strong rope that serves to steady and support the mainmast of a sailing vessel.

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n

Definition: chief support
Antonyms: heterodox

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IN BRIEF: The line that runs forward from the upper part of the mast of a boat. Also: The chief support.

The secretary was the mainstay of the entire company.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: a prominent supporter
  Synonym: pillar

Meaning #2: a central cohesive source of support and stability
  Synonyms: anchor, backbone, linchpin, lynchpin

Meaning #3: the forestay that braces the mainmast

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - hovedstøtte, grundpille, bærende kraft

Nederlands (Dutch)
steunpilaar, grootstag

Français (French)
n. - (fig) pilier, base (de), (Naut) étai de grand mât

Deutsch (German)
n. - (Naut.) Großstag, (Haupt)stütze

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ναυτ.) πρότονος, στάντζος (μαϊστρας), (μτφ.) κύριο στήριγμα, στυλοβάτης

Italiano (Italian)
sostegno

Português (Portuguese)
n. - estai (m) (Náut.) (cabo que auxilia na sustentação do mastro)

Русский (Russian)
опора, главная поддержка

Español (Spanish)
n. - estay mayor, sostén, pilar, fundamento

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - storstag (sjö.), stöttepelare

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
支柱, 中流砥柱

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 支柱, 中流砥柱

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 주마스트를 앞쪽으로 버티는 밧줄

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - メーンステー, 頼みの綱

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) دعامه أساسيه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תומך, מפרנס, משען ראשי‬

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