Cement

Cement was a substance used in construction that hardened and was used to bind other materials together.

Subsequently, the term could refer to anything that kept a way of life from falling apart. A Vulcan phrase originated by was "Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide". 

In 1930, when a cordrazine-affected Dr. Leonard McCoy believed that his 20th century surroundings had been faked he was impressed with the perfection, "right down to the cement beams."

In 2268, when Montgomery Scott threatened Jojo Krako with wearing "concrete galoshes", Krako corrected the phrase to cement overshoes.