Hypertext Webster Gateway: "linchpin"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Linchpin \Linch"pin`\ (l[i^]nch"p[i^]n`), n. [AS. lynis the
axletree; akin to D. luns linchpin, OS. lunisa, LG. lunse, G.
l["u]nse, OHG. lun peg, bolt.]
A pin used to prevent the wheel of a vehicle from sliding off
the axletree.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
linchpin
n 1: a central cohesive source of support and stability: "faith
is his anchor"; "he is the linchpin of this firm" [syn:
{anchor}, {mainstay}, {backbone}, {lynchpin}]
2: pin inserted through an axletree to hold a wheel on [syn: {lynchpin}]
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.