main sea arch.
[See main a. 4. Cf. ON. megensió-r.]
The high sea; = main n.1 5.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 181 b, No more..than a particular ryuer is to be compared to y⊇ mayne see. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 30 At change or at full, come it late or else soone, Maine sea is at highest, at midnight and noone. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 212 In the maine Sea, greater Dolphins, and in greater number, did play about our ship. 1623 Cockeram, Ocean, the vniuersall maine Sea. 1695 Woodward Nat. Hist. Earth 27 The Pelagiæ, or those kinds of Shells which naturally have their abode at mainsea, and which therefore are now never flung up upon the Shores. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 12 ¶22 The starving Wolves along the main Sea prowl. 1876 Swinburne Erechtheus 1699 Who shall meet The wind's whole soul and might of the main sea Full in the face of battle. |
| fig. 1570–6 Lambarde Peramb. Kent 236 The maine Seas of sinne and iniquitie, wherein the worlde..was almost whole [sic] drenched. 1575–85 Abp. Sandys Serm. xviii. 211 Through the middest of sundrie maine seas of troubles and afflictions. |