\Main\, n. [F. main hand, L. manus. See {Manual}.]
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\, n. [AS. m[ae]gen 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\, 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.
{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}.
   (a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf.
       {Counter brace}.
   (b) (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.

\Main\, adv. [See {Main}, a.]
Very; extremely; as, main heavy. ``I'm main dry.'' --Foote.
[Obs. or Low]