Linchpin

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.
     [1913 Webster]



From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  linchpin
       n 1: 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"
            [syn: {anchor}, {mainstay}, {keystone}, {backbone}, {lynchpin}]
       2: pin inserted through an axletree to hold a wheel on [syn: {lynchpin}]