Main
/meɪn/noun
The principal or most important part of something.
Did you know?English main comes from a Germanic root meaning “strong” or “powerful,” which is why it also appears in related words like might and mainstay.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*magh-
“to be able, to have power”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*maganą
“to be able, to be strong”
Old English
English
mægen
“strength, force, power”
Old Norse
ON
meginn
“strength, main part, power”
Middle English
English
main
“strength; chief, principal”
Modern English
English
main
“principal, chief, most important”