point d'appui

Such things afford a point d'appui; for it is evidently of the essence of caricature to be reactionary.

He had found what he had so long sighed for in vain,—his point d'appui, wherein to fix the Archimedean screw.

So you see the only possible point d'appui was to begin with a description of the inside of the boiler.

It was a strong point d'appui on the south-western end of Plateau 400, about the centre of the right flank of the position.

His first care was to secure his base, the railway station, and this point d'appui was strongly garrisoned by the 48th Regiment.