1. A hand or match at dice. Prior. Thackeray.
2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] Shak.
3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard.
4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought." Thackeray.
5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
Main
(Main), n. [AS. mægen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may,
v. . See May, v.]
1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.]
There were in this battle of most might and main.
R. of Gl.
He 'gan advance,
With huge force, and with importable main.
Spenser. 2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.]
Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters.
Bacon. 3. Specifically: (a) The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc. ; the high sea; the ocean.
"Struggling in the main." Dryden. (b) The continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland. "Invaded
the main of Spain." Bacon. (c) principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser ones; esp.
(Engin.), a principal pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire main.
Forcing main, the delivery pipe of a pump. — For the main, or In the main, for the most part; in the
greatest part. — With might and main, or With all one's might and main, with all one's strength; with
violent effort.
With might and main they chased the murderous fox.
Dryden. 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.] "The main abyss." Milton.
3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." 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.
