#1
mainstay n. [
pillar] a prominent supporter; "he is a pillar of the community"
. wn #2
mainstay n. [
anchor, keystone, backbone, linchpin, lynchpin] a central cohesive source of support and stability; "faith is his anchor"; "the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"; "he is the linchpin of this firm"
. wn #3
mainstay n. the forestay that braces the mainmast
. wn