*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of main

From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæin, meyn, from main (noun) (see further at etymology 2); compare Old English mæġen (“strong, main, principal”) (used in combination) and Old Norse megn, megenn (“strong, main”). T

4 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 4 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
adv

Exceedingly, extremely, greatly, mightily, very, very much.

verb

Ellipsis of mainline (“to inject (a drug) directly into a vein”). · To mainly play a specific character or side, or with specific equipment, during a game. · To convert (a road) into a main or primary road.

adj

Of chief or leading importance; prime, principal. · Chief, most important, or principal in extent, size, or strength; consisting of the largest part. · Full, sheer, undivided. · Big; angry.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæin, meyn, from main (noun) (see further at etymology 2); compare Old English mæġen (“strong, main, principal”) (used in combination) and Old Norse megn, megenn (“strong, main”). The word is cognate with Old High German megīn (“strong, mighty”) (modern German Möge, Vermögen (“power, wealth”)), and also akin to Old English magan (“to be able to”). See also may.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Root classification mention*megʰ-ine-pro
  • Inherited-form mentionmaynenm
  • Inherited-form mentionmæġenang
  • Derivation mentionmegnnon
  • Cognate mentionmegīngoh
  • Cognate mentionMögede
  • Cognate mentionmaganang

This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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        "3": "*megʰ-"
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    },
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
noun

That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the bulk, the greater part, gross. · The primary character that one plays in a video game in which one can play more than one character. · A main account. · A large cable or pipe providing utility service to an area or a building, such as a water main or electric main.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Middle English mayn, main, maine, mæine, mæȝen, from Old English mæġen (“strength”), from Proto-Germanic *maginą (“strength, power, might”), *maginaz (“strong”), from Proto-Indo-European *megʰ- (“be able”). The word is cognate with Old High German magen, megin, Old Norse magn, megn, megin, Old Saxon megin. More recent senses are derived from the adjective.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

This page abbreviates 5 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
noun

A hand or match in a game of dice. · The largest throw in a match at dice; in the game of hazard, a number from one to nine called out by a person before the dice are thrown. · A stake played for at dice. · A sporting contest or match, especially a cockfighting match.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Uncertain; probably from the adjective main. Evidence is lacking for a derivation from French main (“hand”).

This page abbreviates 1 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Source etymology 4

Original entry ↗
noun

A basket for gathering grapes.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Uncertain, possibly from French main (“hand”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Derivation mentionmainfr
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for main →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
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Import run
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Permanent entry ID
w-bWFpbg