I. ˈpi-lər noun
Etymology: Middle English piler, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin pilare, from Latin pila
Date: 13th century
1.
a. : a firm upright support for a superstructure : post
b. : a usually ornamental column or shaft ; especially : one standing alone for a monument
2.
a. : a supporting, integral, or upstanding member or part
a pillar of society
b. : a fundamental precept
the five pillar s of Islam
3. : a solid mass of coal, rock, or ore left standing to support a mine roof
4. : a body part that resembles a column
• pil·lar·less adjective
•
- from pillar to post
II. transitive verb
Date: 1607
: to provide or strengthen with or as if with pillars