Main is an adjective which means the thing of principal importance, central. Main may be used as a noun to refer to the principal pipe or cable carrying utilities such as water, gas or electricity, to a building. In British English, these pipes are called the mains. Archaically, main means the open ocean. The word main comes into use in the early thirteenth century to mean large, bulky, strong, from the Old English maegen meaning power, strength, force. By the fifteenth century, main also meant chief.
A mane is the long, flowing hair that grows along the neck of a horse, lion or other furred animal. Mane may also refer to a person’s hair if it is long and thick. Mane comes from the Old English word manu, meaning mane.
Maine is one of the fifty states of the United States of America. Maine is part of the New England area, it was probably named by French explorers after the Mayne region in France. An alternative theory for the origin of the name Maine is that explorers used the word to distinguish it as the mainland, as opposed to the offshore islands.
Examples
Carly Fiorina Makes It to Main Stage At CNN’s Next GOP Debate (Variety)
The Main Reason Trump Shouldn’t Be President Is Painfully Obvious (The Huffington Post)
I’m the Electric Gran: Anne has to plug her heart into the mains to stay alive (The Mirror)
The horse’s mane had been plaited overnight on Monday, leading Abbie to believe thieves were setting up a raid. (The Scottish Daily Record)
Green with envy: Dancing With The Stars second runner-up Ash Pollard lets down her lioness mane at the show’s after party in black gown with lime-coloured clutch (The Daily Mail)
“This is a great honor for Brian, and we are proud he is joining this elite group of Maine golf professionals,” Tracy Willette, director of Bangor Parks and Recreation, said in a news release. (The Bangor Daily News)