buttress
UK[ˈbʌtrəs]US[ˈbʌtrəs]
n
a structure built against a wall to support or strengthen it
v
to support or strengthen something
Etymology
the word 'buttress' arrived in middle english from old french 'bouterez', a term for a projecting support for a wall. the french word stemmed from 'bouter', meaning 'to strike or thrust against', which likely has germanic roots, possibly related to an old norse word for 'to strike'. the core logic of the word is architectural: a buttress is a structure that 'thrusts against' or 'pushes back' on a wall to counteract outward forces. over time, its meaning expanded metaphorically to describe any action or fact that provides support or reinforcement to an argument or system, retaining the core idea of providing countervailing strength.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it entered english from old french 'bouterez', derived from the verb 'bouter' meaning 'to strike, to thrust'. its ultimate origin is uncertain but may be germanic.
Examples
the flying buttress is a defining architectural feature of gothic cathedrals.
the new evidence served to buttress the prosecution's case.
they built a sturdy stone buttress to prevent the old wall from collapsing.