winch

¹

[ winch ]

noun

1. the crank or handle of a revolving machine.
2. a windlass turned by a crank, for hoisting or hauling.
3. any of various devices for cranking.
4. Also Textiles.
   1. any machine equipped with rollers that guide cloth through a dye or finishing solution in an open vat.
   2. a roller between two dyeing vats for passing cloth from one vat to another.

verb (used with object)

1. to hoist or haul (a load) by means of a winch.

winch

²

[ winch ]

verb (used without object)

, Archaic.

1. an archaic variant of wince ¹.

winch

¹

/ wɪntʃ /

noun

1. a windlass driven by a hand- or power-operated crank
2. a hand- or power-operated crank by which a machine is driven

verb

1. tr; often foll by up or in to pull (in a rope) or lift (a weight) using a winch

winch

²

/ wɪntʃ /

verb

1. intr an obsolete word for wince 1

Derived Forms

• ˈwincher, noun

Other Words From

• wincher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of winch¹

before 1050; Middle English winche, Old English wince pulley; akin to wench, wince ¹, wink ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of winch¹

Old English wince pulley; related to wink ¹

Example Sentences

At times, the professionals attending to me on the mountainside were not sure if things were getting better or worse so they decided to have me winched aboard a Coastguard helicopter and taken to hospital.

From BBC

The French search and rescue service said the casualty from the MSC Virtuosa was winched from the sea by a helicopter crew and was later pronounced dead by doctors.

From BBC

Traditionally everything above the waterline on the 75ft-long boats - the sails, mast and winches - was powered by grinders, sailors who used their arms to turn cranks.

From BBC

With sheets of water pouring from its body, the UK’s most famous robot - Boaty McBoatface - was winched up after 55 days at sea.

From BBC

Mrs Mason and her husband then had to winch the Deadpool cake on top of the Wolverine cake to recreate the Dirty Dancing pose.

From BBC