windlass

[ wind-luhs ]

noun

1. a device for raising or hauling objects, usually consisting of a horizontal cylinder or barrel turned by a crank, lever, motor, or the like, upon which a cable, rope, or chain winds, the outer end of the cable being attached directly or indirectly to the weight to be raised or the thing to be hauled or pulled; winch.

verb (used with object)

1. to raise, haul, or move (a load) by means of a windlass.

windlass

/ ˈwɪndləs /

noun

1. a machine for raising weights by winding a rope or chain upon a barrel or drum driven by a crank, motor, etc

verb

1. tr to raise or haul (a weight, etc) by means of a windlass

Word History and Origins

Origin of windlass¹

1350–1400; Middle English wind ( e ) las < Old Norse vindāss, equivalent to vinda to wind ² + āss beam

Word History and Origins

Origin of windlass¹

C14: from Old Norse vindáss, from vinda to wind ² + ass pole; related to Old French guindas, Middle Low German, Dutch windas

Example Sentences

According to the museum, a large wooden windlass - a type of winch - that staff from Ludington State Park found a few years ago may also be from the same wreck.

From Washington Times

Our seminar was making a windlass, a kind of winch used to raise an anchor.

From Los Angeles Times

Robin could see the iron wheel under the window which turned like a windlass to let out the rope.

From Literature

As he cranked the windlass, Neal asked, “How do we know when to stop?”

From The New Yorker

Up ahead, in a clear area near the summit of the hill, she saw the source of the thin smoke—a waist-high cylinder of stone with a wooden windlass and a dangling bucket.

From Literature