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Webster 1913 Edition


Holdfast

Hold′fastˊ

,
Noun.
1.
Something used to secure and hold in place something else, as a long flat-headed nail, a catch a hook, a clinch, a clamp, etc.; hence, a support.
“His holdfast was gone.”
Bp. Montagu.
2.
(Bot.)
A conical or branching body, by which a seaweed is attached to its support, and differing from a root in that it is not specially absorbent of moisture.

Webster 1828 Edition


Holdfast

HOLDFAST

,
Noun.
A thing that takes hold; a catch; a hook.

Definition 2024


holdfast

holdfast

English

a workbench holdfast

Noun

holdfast (plural holdfasts)

  1. Something to or by which an object can be securely fastened.
  2. (zoology) A root-like structure that anchors aquatic sessile organisms, such as seaweed, other sessile algae, stalked crinoids, benthic cnidarians, and sponges, to the substrate.
  3. (archaic, medicine) Actinomycosis.

See also