1
- a structure of stone or brick built against a wall to strengthen or support it扶壁, 撑墙, 拱壁。
1.1
- a projecting portion of a hill or mountain山边扶壁状凸出部分。
2
- figurative a source of defence or support〈喻〉保卫力量; 支持力量：
the political police were the main buttress of the regime.
政治警察是该政权的主要支柱。
with obj.
1
- provide (a building or structure) with buttresses用扶壁支撑（建筑物等）：
adj. buttressed a buttressed wall.有扶壁支撑的墙。
2
- figurative increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce〈喻〉加强; 支持; 加固：
authority was buttressed by religious belief.
权威得到宗教信仰的支撑。
词源
Middle English: from Old French （ars） bouterez 'thrusting (arch)', from boter 'to strike or thrust' （see BUTT1 ）.