The story
From main + spring. For figurative sense, compare spring (“source, origin”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
mainspring
Today it means: The principal spring of a clockwork mechanism, which drives it by uncoiling. Full definition →
Today it means: The principal spring of a clockwork mechanism, which drives it by uncoiling. Full definition →
From main + spring. For figurative sense, compare spring (“source, origin”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.