Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Something used to secure and hold in place something else, as a long fiat-headed nail, a catch a hook, a clinch, a clamp, etc.; hence, a support. 2. (n.) 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.

Multi-Version Concordance Holdfast (1 Occurrence) Habakkuk 2:11 For a stone from the wall doth cry out, And a holdfast from the wood answereth it. (YLT)