holdfast

See also: Holdfast

English

From hold +‎ fast.

holdfast (plural holdfasts)

Something to or by which an object can be securely fastened.
- 1658, Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus, Folio Society, published 2007, page 198:
  And Ivy divided from the root, we have observed to live some years, by the cirrous parts commonly conceived but as tentacles and holdfasts unto it.
(biology) A root-like structure that anchors aquatic sessile organisms, such as seaweed, other sessile algae, stalked crinoids, benthic cnidarians, and sponges, to the substrate.
Hyponym: hapteron
(archaic, medicine) Actinomycosis.
The aspect of a character that experiences destructive temptation.
- 2006, James Bonnet, Stealing Fire from the Gods: The Complete Guide to Story for Writers and Filmmakers:
  Alienation: A stage on the downside of the passage wherein the holdfast and the antihero take actions which bring about a disintegration of personality.

Something to or by which an object can be securely fastened