Linchpin has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
Noun
Noun
1
a central cohesive source of support and stability
"faith is his anchor"
"the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"
"he is the linchpin of this firm"
2
pin inserted through an axletree to hold a wheel on
3
A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle or shaft, so as to secure a wheel or shaft-mounted device.
Example Sentences
"faith is his anchor"
noun
"the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"
noun
"he is the linchpin of this firm"
noun
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
Origin
The word comes from Middle English lynspin, a compound of words for "axletree" and "pin." It originally referred to the metal pin that secures a wheel to an axle, with figurative uses appearing in the mid-20th century.