buttress

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: but=tress
• COUNT in NET: 4 in 4 verses (in OT : 4 in 4 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

buttress, n. [OE. butrasse, boterace, fr. F. bouter to push; cf. OF. bouteret (nom. sing. and acc. pl. bouterez) buttress. See Butt an end, and cf. Butteris.].

•  A projecting mass of masonry, used for resisting the thrust of an arch, or for ornament and symmetry.  [1913 Webster]

  " When an external projection is used merely to stiffen a wall, it is a pier."  [1913 Webster]
•  Anything which supports or strengthens.  South.  [1913 Webster]

Flying buttress. See Flying buttress.

buttress, v. t. 

 To support with a buttress; to prop; to brace firmly.  [1913 Webster]
"To set it upright again, and to prop and buttress it up for duration."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

buttress, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a projecting support of stone or brick etc. built against a wall. b a source of help or encouragement (she was a buttress to him in his trouble).
2 a projecting portion of a hill or mountain.
--v.tr. (often foll. by up)
1 support with a buttress.
2 support by argument etc. (claim buttressed by facts).

Etymology

ME f. OF (ars) bouterez thrusting (arch) f. bouteret f. bouter BUTT(1)

THESAURUS

buttress

abutment, advocate, affirm, afford support, alpenstock, arc-boutant, arm, athletic supporter, attest, authenticate, back, back up, backbone, backing, bandeau, bank, beam, bear, bear out, bear up, bearer, beef up, bolster, bolster up, bra, brace, brace up, bracer, bracket, brassiere, breakwater, bulwark, buoy up, buttress pier, buttressing, cane, carrier, carry, case harden, certify, cervix, circumstantiate, column, confirm, corroborate, corset, cradle, crook, crutch, cushion, document, embankment, finance, flying buttress, fortify, foundation garment, fulcrum, fund, gird, girdle, give support, groin, guy, guywire, hanging buttress, harden, hold, hold up, invigorate, jetty, jock, jockstrap, jutty, keep, keep afloat, keep up, lend support, mainstay, maintain, maintainer, mast, mole, neck, nerve, pier, pier buttress, pillow, probate, prop, prop up, prove, rampart, ratify, refresh, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer, reinvigorate, rest, resting place, restrengthen, retaining wall, rigging, seawall, shore, shore up, shoulder, shroud, spine, sprit, staff, standing rigging, stave, stay, steel, stick, stiffen, stiffener, strengthen, strengthener, subsidize, substantiate, subvention, subventionize, support, supporter, sustain, sustainer, temper, toughen, underbrace, undergird, underlie, underpin, underpinning, underset, upbear, uphold, upholder, upkeep, validate, verify, walking stick, warrant

ROGET THESAURUS

buttress

Defense

N defense, protection, guard, ward, shielding, propugnation, preservation, guardianship, area defense, site defense, self-defense, self-preservation, resistance, safeguard, balistraria, bunker, screen, camouflage, fortification, munition, muniment, trench, foxhole, bulwark, fosse, moat, ditch, entrenchment, intrenchment, kila, dike, dyke, parapet, sunk fence, embankment, mound, mole, bank, sandbag, revetment, earth work, field- work, fence, wall dead wall, contravallation, paling, palisade, haha, stockade, stoccado, laager, sangar, barrier, barricade, boom, portcullis, chevaux de frise, abatis, abattis, abbatis, vallum, circumvallation, battlement, rampart, scarp, escarp, counter-scarp, glacis, casemate, vallation, vanfos, buttress, abutment, shore, breastwork, banquette, curtain, mantlet, bastion, redan, ravelin, vauntmure, advance work, horn work, outwork, barbacan, barbican, redoubt, fort-elage, fort-alice, lines, loophole, machicolation, sally port, hold, stronghold, fastness, asylum, keep, donjon, dungeon, fortress, citadel, capitol, castle, tower of strength, tower of strength, fort, barracoon, pah, sconce, martello tower, peelhouse, blockhouse, rath, wooden walls, bulletproof vest, armored vest, buffer, corner stone, fender, apron, mask, gauntlet, thimble, carapace, armor, shield, buckler, aegis, breastplate, backplate, cowcatcher, face guard, scutum, cuirass, habergeon, mail, coat of mail, brigandine, hauberk, lorication, helmet, helm, bassinet, salade, heaume, morion, murrion, armet, cabaset, vizor, casquetel, siege cap, headpiece, casque, pickelhaube, vambrace, shako, bearskin, panoply, truncheon, garrison, picket, piquet, defender, protector, guardian, bodyguard, champion, knight-errant, Paladin, propugner, bulletproof window, hardened site, defending, defensive, mural, armed, armed at all points, armed cap-a-pie, armed to the teeth, panoplied, iron-plated, ironclad, loopholed, castellated, machicolated, casemated, defended, proof against, armored, ballproof, bulletproof, hardened, defensively, on the defense, on the defensive, in defense, at bay, pro aris et focis, Int, no surrender!, defense not defiance, Dieu defend le droit, fidei defensor, defender of the faith.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.