Part 6758

<h1>Mainpernor</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"per*nor</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>main</ets> hand + <ets>pernor</ets>, for <ets>preneor</ets>, a taker, F. <ets>preneur</ets>, fr. <ets>prendre</ets> to take.]</ety> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>A surety, under the old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's appearance in court at a day.</def>

<note>&hand; <i>Mainpernors</i> differ from <i>bail</i> in that a man's <i>bail</i> may imprison or surrender him before the stipulated day of appearance; <i>mainpernors</i> can do neither; they are bound to produce him to answer all charges whatsoever.</note>

<i>Blackstone.</i>

<h1>Mainpin</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"pin</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Vehicles)</fld> <def>A kingbolt.</def>

<h1>Mainprise</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"prise</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>main</ets> hand + <ets>prise</ets> a taking, fr. <ets>prendre</ets>, p. p. <ets>pris</ets> to take, fr. L. <ets>prehendere</ets>, <ets>prehensum</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Law)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A writ directed to the sheriff, commanding him to take sureties, called <i>mainpernors</i>, for the prisoner's appearance, and to let him go at large. This writ is now obsolete.</def> <i>Wharton</i>. <sd>(b)</sd> <def>Deliverance of a prisoner on security for his appearance at a day.</def>

<h1>Mainprise</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"prise</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Mainprised</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Mainprising</er>.]</wordforms> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>To suffer to go at large, on his finding sureties, or mainpernors, for his appearance at a day; -- said of a prisoner.</def>

<h1>Mains</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Mains</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Scot. See <er>Manse</er>.]</ety> <def>The farm attached to a mansion house.</def> <mark>[Scot.]</mark>

<h1>Mainsail</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"sail`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>The principal sail in a ship or other vessel.</def>

<blockquote> hoised up the <b>mainsail</b> to the wind. <i> Acts xxvii. 40.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; The <i>mainsail</i> of a ship is extended upon a yard attached to the mainmast, and that of a sloop or schooner upon the boom.</note>

<h1>Mainsheet</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"sheet`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and trimmed.</def>

<h1>Mainspring</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"spring`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The principal or most important spring in a piece of mechanism, especially the moving spring of a watch or clock or the spring in a gunlock which impels the hammer. Hence: The chief or most powerful motive; the efficient cause of action.</def>

<h1>Mainstay</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"stay`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>The stay extending from the foot of the foremast to the maintop.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Main support; principal dependence.</def>

<blockquote>The great <b>mainstay</b> of the Church. <i>Buckle.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Mainswear</h1> <Xpage=884>

<hw>Main"swear`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>m\'benswerian</ets> to forswear; <ets>m\'ben</ets> sin, crime + <ets>swerian</ets> to swear.]</ety> <def>To swear falsely.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Blount.</i>

<h1>Maintain</h1> <Xpage=884>