As a noun, a buttress is a structure built against a wall to support and strengthen it. As a verb, it means to support or strengthen an idea, argument, or structure.
From Old French 'bouterez,' related to 'bouter' meaning 'to thrust or push against.' In medieval architecture, buttresses were essential for holding up tall stone walls, especially in cathedrals. The word’s physical sense later evolved into the metaphorical sense of supporting arguments or systems.
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