Adjacent Words

Windlass definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

WINDLAS, WINDLASS, n. [wind and lace.]
1. A machine for raising great weights, consisting of a cylinder or roller of timber, moving on its axis and turned by levers, with a rope or chain attached to the weight.
2. A handle by which any thing is turned. [Not in use.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds [syn: winch, windlass]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English wyneles, wyndlas, alteration of wyndase, from Old French guindas, windas, from Old Norse vind?ss, from vinda to wind (akin to Old High German wintan to wind) + ?ss pole; akin to Gothic ans beam Date: 13th century any of various machines for hoisting or hauling: as a. a horizontal barrel supported on vertical posts and turned by a crank so that the hoisting rope is wound around the barrel b. a steam or electric winch with horizontal or vertical shaft and two drums used to raise a ship's anchor II. transitive verb Date: 1834 to hoist or haul with a windlass

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. a machine with a horizontal axle for hauling or hoisting. --v.tr. hoist or haul with a windlass. Etymology: alt. (perh. by assoc. with dial. windle to wind) of obs. windas f. OF guindas f. ON vindáss f. vinda WIND(2) + áss pole

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Windlass Wind"lass, n.[Perhaps from wind to turn + lace.] A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course; a shift.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Windlass Wind"lass, v. i. To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means. [Obs.] --Hammond.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Windlass Wind"lass, n. [OE. windelas, windas, Icel. vindil[=a]ss, vind[=a]s, fr. vinda to wind + [=a]ss a pole; cf. Goth. ans a beam. See Wind to turn.] 1. A machine for raising weights, consisting of a horizontal cylinder or roller moving on its axis, and turned by a crank, lever, or similar means, so as to wind up a rope or chain attached to the weight. In vessels the windlass is often used instead of the capstan for raising the anchor. It is usually set upon the forecastle, and is worked by hand or steam. 2. An apparatus resembling a winch or windlass, for bending the bow of an arblast, or crossbow. [Obs.] --Shak. Chinese windlass. See Differential windlass, under Differential.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Windlass Wind"lass, v. t. & i. To raise with, or as with, a windlass; to use a windlass. --The Century.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(windlasses) A windlass is a mechanical device for lifting heavy objects, which uses a motor to pull a rope or chain around a cylinder. = winch N-COUNT

Moby Thesaurus

Chinese windlass, Spanish windlass, capstan, crab, crane, derrick, erector, forklift, gantry crane, hoist, hydraulic tailgate, jack, jackscrew, lever, lift, lifter, reel, tackle, winch