main

Etymology 1

From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæin, meyn, from main (noun) (see further at etymology 2); compare Old English mægen- (“strong, main, principal”) (used in combination) and Old Norse megn, megenn (“strong, main”). The word is cognate with Old High German megīn (“strong, mighty”) (modern German Möge, Vermögen (“power, wealth”)), and also akin to Old English magan (“to be able to”). See also may.

adj

1. Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal.
   By one o'clock the place was choc-a-bloc. […] The restaurant was packed, and the promenade between the two main courts and the subsidiary courts was thronged with healthy-looking youngish people, drawn to the Mecca of tennis from all parts of the country. 1935, [George Goodchild], chapter 5, in Death on the Centre Court; a McLean Mystery, London: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC
2. Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part.
   main timbers
   main branch of a river
   main body of an army
   The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania. […] It was used to make kerosene, the main fuel for artificial lighting after overfishing led to a shortage of whale blubber. Other liquids produced in the refining process, too unstable or smoky for lamplight, were burned or dumped. 3 August 2013, “The Future of Oil: Yesterday’s fuel”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8847, archived from the original on 2013-08-01
3. (archaic, of force, strength, etc.) Full, sheer, undivided.
4. (dialectal) Big; angry.
5. (nautical) Belonging to or connected with the principal mast in a vessel.
6. (obsolete) Great in size or degree; important, powerful, strong, vast.
   And now that Current with main Fury ran / (The Stop remov'd that did the Courſe defend) / Unto the full of Miſchief, that began / T' an univerſal Ruin to extend; […] 1718, Samuel Daniel, “The History of the Civil War. Book V.”, in The Poetical Works of Mr. Samuel Daniel, Author of the English History.[…], volume II, London: Printed for R. Gosling,[…] W. Mears,[…] and J. Browne[…], →OCLC, stanza LXXXIX, page 167

adv

1. (Britain, dialectal) Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much.
   Suck[y]. A Draught of Ale, Friend, for I'm main dry. / Pen[elope]. Fie! fie! Niece! Is that Liquor for a young Lady? Don't disparage your Family and Breeding! 1754, Samuel Foote, “The Knights”, in The Knights. A Comedy, in Two Acts.[…], Dublin: Printed by Richard James,[…], →OCLC, act II, page 35
   Why, it's main jolly to be sure, and all that so fair. 1778, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, “The Camp: A Musical Entertainment”, in The Dramatic Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. With a Memoir of the Author (Dove’s English Classics), London: Printed and published by J. F. Dove,[…], published c. 1813–1828, →OCLC, act I, scene ii, page 309

verb

1. (transitive, slang) Short for mainline (“to inject (a drug) directly into a vein”).
2. (transitive, gaming) To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game.
   He mains the same character as me in that game.
   What race do you main and what is your favourite race to beat?
   For new players, I recommend maining the dagger and using the axe as a backup weapon.
   Now, full disclosure: I too main Soldier 76 in "Overwatch" (by the way, the term "maining" is parlance for the most-often used character you play in a given game). 25 January 2017, Dave Smith, “After Weeks of Bugging Him on Twitter, Elon Musk just Told Me His ‘Dark Secret’”, in Business Insider, archived from the original on 2017-03-30
3. (obsolete) To convert (a road) into a main or primary road.
   When a rural district council considers that a highway in its district ought to become a main road by reason of its being a medium of communication between great towns, or a thoroughfare to a railway station, or otherwise, it may apply to the county council for an order "maining" the road under s. 15 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 77), as amended by s. 3 (viii.) of the Local Government Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 41), and the county council may make an order accordingly. 1904, Arthur Underhill, Charles Otto Blagden, et al., editors, An Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents Other than Court Forms, volume 6, London: Butterworth, →OCLC
   The borough did not have an opportunity of conferring with the County Council, but the County Council requested particulars of district roads in the borough which the Council suggested should be mained. 1927, The Municipal Journal and Public Works Engineer, volume XXXVI, London: Municipal Journal, →OCLC

Etymology 2

From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæine, mæȝen, from Old English mæġen (“strength”), from Proto-Germanic *maginą (“strength, power, might”), *maginaz (“strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- (“be able”). The word is cognate with Old High German magen, megin, Old Norse magn, megn, megin, Old Saxon megin. More recent senses are derived from the adjective.

noun

1. That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross.
   Antiochus […] thought it a proper time for him to attempt the recovery of Syria; and Hermias his prime Miniſter preſſed hard for his going in perſon to this war, contrary to the Opinion of Epigenes his General; who thought it chiefly concerned him to ſuppreſs the Rebellion of Alexander and Molon in the East; and therefore adviſed him to march immediately in perſon with the main of his Army for the ſubduing of thoſe Rebels, before they ſhould gather greater ſtrength in the revolted Provinces againſt him. 1718, Humphrey Prideaux, The Old and New Testaments Connected in the History of the Jews and Neighbouring Nations, from the Declension of the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah to the Time of Christ, 3rd edition, volume II, part I, London: Printed for R. Knaplock[…] and J[acob] Tonson[…], →OCLC, part II, book II, page 96
   But the King Henry VII of England], […] preferring his affection to his own line and blood, […] resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two, that of marriage, and that of battle, but as supporters, the one to appease secret discontents, and the other to beat down open murmur and dispute; […] 1803, Francis Bacon, “The History of the Reign of King Henry the Seventh”, in The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England. In Ten Volumes, volume V, London: Printed for J. Johnson [et al.]; […], →OCLC, page 8
   1. (video games) The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character.
      My WoW main has reached level cap and I’m on my way getting my first alt there as well.
2. A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.
   [T]he Contract with the Pipe-water Pavior was, as he recollects, to keep the Pavement in Repair for ſix Weeks; did oblige the Contractor to repair many Places in that ſix Weeks; there was a Part of the new Main failed in Dame-ſtreet; was obliged to take up three or four Pieces in Length, in conſequence of a Sewer being made there, which undermined the Main, and put it out of its Place; […] 3 April 1778, “Appendix. Report from the Committee on the State of the Pavements, &c. in the Streets of Dublin”, in The Journals of the House of Commons, of the Kingdom of Ireland,[…], volume XX, Dublin: Printed by Abraham Bradley and Abraham Bradley King,[…], published 1782, →OCLC, page 539
   [T]he Board would have put down, and indeed have ordered, hydrants where the water companies have put down new mains, or at all events are quite prepared upon those new mains to fix hydrants. 19 June 1876, Guildford Barker Richardson (interviewee), “Mr. Guildford Barker Richardson, Called in; and further Examined”, in Report from the Select Committee on the Metropolis Gas (Surrey Side) Bill; together with the Proceedings of the Committee, and Minutes of Evidence (Reports from Committees: Seven Volumes; 4), volume XI, [London]: Ordered, by the House of Commons, to be printed, published 28 July 1876, →OCLC, paragraph 4780, page 335
3. (informal) Short for main course (“the principal dish of a meal”).
   I had scampi and chips for my main and a slice of cheesecake for dessert.
4. (now poetic) The high seas.
   Wanton god of am'rous fires, / Wishes, sighs and soft desires, / All nature's sons thy laws maintain; / O'er liquid air, firm land, and swelling main, / Extend thy uncontroul'd and boundless reign. c. 1744, Thomas Broughton (libretto), George Frideric Handel (music), “Hercules: An Oratorio”, in The Miscellaneous Pieces, as Set to Music, of Geo. Fred. Handel.[…], part II, London: Printed for T. Heptinstall,[…], published 1799, →OCLC, part the second [Act II, scene iv], page 53
   My love, and native land, fareweel! / For I maun cross the main... 1796, “It Was A' For Our Rightful King”, Robert Burns (lyrics)
   The Sons of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part; / But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and the troubled heart, / […] / It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to embark and entrain, / Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main. 1907, Rudyard Kipling, “The Sons of Martha”, in Rudyard Kipling’s Verse: Inclusive Edition 1885–1918, London: Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., published 1927, →OCLC, pages 436–437
5. (now archaic, US dialectal) The mainland.
   In the year that followed of 1589, we gave the Spaniards no breath, but turned challengers, invaded the main of Spain. In which enterprize, although we failed of our end, which was to ſettle Don Antonio in the kingdom of Portugal, yet a man ſhall hardly meet with an action that doth better reveal the great ſecret of the power of Spain: […] 1624, Francis Bacon, “Considerations Touching a War with Spain. Inscribed to Prince Charles, An. 1624.”, in The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, and Lord High Chancellor of England, volume III, London: Printed for J[ohn] Walthoe,[…], published 1740, →OCLC, page 526
6. (nautical) Short for mainsail.
7. (obsolete, except in might and main) Force, power, strength, violent effort.

Etymology 3

Uncertain; probably from the adjective main. Evidence is lacking for a derivation from French main (“hand”).

noun

1. (obsolete, gaming) A hand or match in a game of dice.
   That writing is but juſt like dice, / And lucky mains make people wiſe: / That jumbled words, if fortune throw 'em, / Shall, well as Dryden, form a poem; […] 14 May 1689, Mr. Prior Matthew Prior?], “Epistle to Fleetwood Shephard, Esq.”, in “Mr. Gentleman” [pseudonym], The New Pleasing Instructor: Or, Entertaining Moralist.[…], York, Yorkshire: Printed by C. Etherington, for John Bell, […] and C. Etherington,[…], published 1772, →OCLC, page 370
2. (obsolete, gaming) The largest throw in a match at dice; in the game of hazard, a number from one to nine called out by a person before the dice are thrown.
   Euery man hath not beene brought vp in the knowledge of toungs. And it chanceth often to the reader, as it doth to diceplayers, that gaine more by the bye then by the maine. 1598, Richard Barckley, “To the Reader”, in A Discourse of the Felicitie of Man: Or His Summum Bonum, London: Printed [by Richard Field] for VVilliam Ponsonby, →OCLC; republished as “To the Reader”, in A Discovrse of the Felicite of Man. Or His Summum Bonum, newly corrected and augmented edition, London: Printed [by James Roberts] for VVilliam Ponsonby, 1603, →OCLC
3. (obsolete, gaming) A stake played for at dice.
4. (obsolete, gaming, sports) A sporting contest or match, especially a cockfighting match.
5. A banker's shovel for coins.

Etymology 4

Uncertain, possibly from French main (“hand”).

noun

1. (obsolete, rare) A basket for gathering grapes.
   A main [hamper] Corbis vindemiatorius] [1751, Robert Ainsworth, Samuel Patrick, “A main”, in Thesaurus Linguæ Latinæ Compendiarius: Or, A Compendious Dictionary of the Latin Tongue:[…], 3rd edition, London: Printed by C. and J. Ackers, for W[illiam] Mount and T[homas] Page [et al.], →OCLC, column 1