pillar

name

1. A surname.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English piler, from Old French pilier, from Medieval Latin or Vulgar Latin *pilāre (“a pillar”), from Latin pila (“a pillar, pier, mole”).

1. A large post, often used as supporting architecture.
2. Something resembling such a structure.

   “a pillar of smoke”

3. An essential part of something that provides support.

   “He's a pillar of the community.”

   “In the Shanghai Communiqué of 1972, we recognized the fact that both Beijing and Taipei viewed Taiwan as part of China but unequivocally expressed our support for a peaceful settlement of the unification issue. While we should not alter the fundamental pillars of our policy, we should consider certain steps that will raise Taiwan's international standing.”

4. A portable ornamental column, formerly carried before a cardinal, as emblematic of his support to the church.

   “two laye-men secular eache of theym holdynge a pillar In their hondes, steade of a mace”

5. The centre of the volta, ring, or manege ground, around which a horse turns.
6. The body from the hips over the core to the shoulders.
7. A vertical, often spire-shaped, natural rock formation.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English piler, from Old French pilier, from Medieval Latin or Vulgar Latin *pilāre (“a pillar”), from Latin pila (“a pillar, pier, mole”).

1. To provide with pillars or added strength as if from pillars.

   “Insufficient penetration, or faulty distribution of the blast, may give rise to "pillaring" — that is, the formation of a pillar or column of cold material extending up through the middle of the hearth”

   “We discovered this new class of compounds in our search for a means of generating porosity by pillaring layered double hydroxides”