main course

noun

1. Nautical.,  a square mainsail.

2. the principal dish or course of a meal, typically including meat or fish.

main course

noun

1. the principal dish of a meal

2. nautical a square mainsail

Word History and Origins

Origin of main course¹

First recorded in 1505–15

Example Sentences

Now, thanks to inflation and stubbornly high grocery bills, they’re more often getting promoted—sometimes to the main course.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For the main course, I’d choose a sparkling rosé or even a Lambrusco—especially if the turkey is smoked or fried.

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But the main course was a different story.

Read more on Salon

The main course, a whole fried sea bream, served with a ginger fish sauce caramel, peanuts, herbs, lemon, and wild pepper leaves to delicately wrap each fried morsel, truly blew me away.

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So if you fire up the grill this weekend — even attempting one of Ramsay’s barbecue favorites — still, make sunscreen the main course.

Read more on Los Angeles Times