The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
MAINSTAY
mainstay
(noun) the forestay that braces the mainmast
anchor, mainstay, keystone, backbone, linchpin, lynchpin
(noun) 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”
pillar, mainstay
(noun) a prominent supporter; “he is a pillar of the community”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
mainstay (plural mainstays)
A chief support.
Someone or something that can be depended on to make a regular contribution.
(nautical) A stabilising rope from the top of the mainmast to the bottom of the foremast.
Anagrams
• Mayanist
Source: Wiktionary
Main"stay`, n.
1. (Naut.)
Definition: The stay extending from the foot of the foremast to the maintop.
2. Main support; principal dependence. The great mainstay of the Church. Buckle.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
23 February 2025
BARGAIN
(noun) an advantageous purchase; “she got a bargain at the auction”; “the stock was a real buy at that price”
Coffee Trivia
