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linchpin

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.26 sec.
linch·pin or lynch·pin  (lnchpn)
n.
1. A locking pin inserted in the end of a shaft, as in an axle, to prevent a wheel from slipping off.
2. A central cohesive element: Reduced spending is the linchpin of their economic program.

[Middle English linspin : lins, linchpin (from Old English lynis) + pin, pin (from Old English pinn; see pin).]

linchpin or lynchpin
Noun
1. a pin inserted through an axle to keep a wheel in position
2. an essential person or thing: she was the linchpin of the experiment [Old English lynis]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.linchpin - 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"
support - something providing immaterial assistance to a person or cause or interest; "the policy found little public support"; "his faith was all the support he needed"; "the team enjoyed the support of their fans"
2.linchpin - pin inserted through an axletree to hold a wheel on
pin - a small slender (often pointed) piece of wood or metal used to support or fasten or attach things
Translations
linchpin [ˈlɪntʃpɪn] npezonera;
(fig) → eje m
linchpin [ˈlɪntʃpɪn] nesse f (fig); pivot m
linchpin [ˈlɪntʃpɪn] n (fig) → wichtigste Stütze f
linchpin [ˈlɪntʃpɪn] nacciarino, bietta;
(fig) → perno


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
(to this hour with less penitence than I ought to feel), that if these hands could have taken a linchpin out of his chaise-cart, they would have done it.
A linchpin had fallen out, and permitted one of the wheels to slide off.
There was the good old custom of taking the linchpins out of the farmers' and bagmen's gigs at the fairs, and a cowardly, blackguard custom it was.
 
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