The Collaborative International Dictionary
Main \Main\ (m[=a]n), a. [From Main strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. Magnate.]
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Very or extremely strong. [Obs.]
That current with main fury ran.
--Daniel. Vast; huge. [Obs.] ``The main abyss.''
--Milton.Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] ``It's a man untruth.''
--Sir W. Scott.-
Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.; as, the main reason to go; the main proponent.
Our main interest is to be happy as we can.
--Tillotson. -
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. By main strength, by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy weight by main strength. Main beam (Steam Engine), working beam. Main boom (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel. Main brace.
(Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. Counter brace.
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(Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard.
Main center (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working beam or side lever swings.
Main chance. See under Chance.
Main couple (Arch.), the principal truss in a roof.
Main deck (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck; the principal deck.
Main keel (Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel, as distinguished from the false keel.
Syn: Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.
Usage examples of "main boom".
He set the jib in stops, made halliard and sheets ready, set up the main boom and removed the crutch, made fast the main sheet and removed all but two tie-ers from the sail.
And then the main boom was across and Patch and I were winching in the starboard jib sheet as we gathered way on the port tack.
A lantern swung from the main boom, another over the aft companionway.
Soon the cutter turned to head out towards the Atlantic and with the wind aft she rolled violently, the end of the main boom occasionally dipping in the water.
The privateer's main boom crashed over, followed by the foresail, and almost at once she began to turn faster.
They gathered under the awning, which, stretched across the main boom, shaded the quarterdeck, and watched the reception of His Excellency.