windlass

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Any of numerous hauling or lifting machines consisting essentially of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank or a motor so that a line attached to the load is wound around the cylinder.
2. v. To raise with a windlass.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A hand or power machine for drawing a package of staves together to form a barrel.
2. n. A winding or turning; a circuitous course; a circuit.
3. n. Any indirect, artful course; circumvention; art and contrivance; subtleties.
4. To take a circuitous path; fetch a compass.
5. To adopt a circuitous, artful, or cunning course; use stratagem; act indirectly or warily.
6. To bend; turn about; bewilder.
7. n. A modification of the wheel and axle, used for raising weights, etc. One kind of windlass is the winch used for raising water from wells, etc., which has an axle turned by a crank, and a rope or chain for raising the weight by being wound round the axle. A simple form of windlass, much used in ships for raising the anchors or obtaining a purchase on other occasions, consists of strong beam of wood placed horizontally, and supported at its ends by iron spindles which turn in collars or bushes inserted in what are termed the windlass-bitts. This large axle is pierced with holes directed toward its center, in which long levers or handspikes are inserted for turning it round when the anchor is to be weighed or any purchase is required. It is furnished with pawls to prevent it from turning backward when the pressure on the handspikes is intermitted. Different arrangements of gearing are applied to a windlass to exert increased power, and steam-windlasses, in which a small steamengine is made to heave the windlass round, have come largely into use. Compare capstan (with cut), and cut under winch.
8. n. A handle by which anything is turned; specifically, a winch-like contrivance for bending the arbalist or crossbow. See crossbow.
9. To use a windlass; raise something as by a windlass.
10. To hoist or haul by means of a windlass.

Wiktionary

1. n. Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights
2. v. To raise with, or as if with, a windlass; to use a windlass.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course; a shift.
2. v. obsolete To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means.
3. n. 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.
4. n. obsolete An apparatus resembling a winch or windlass, for bending the bow of an arblast, or crossbow.
5. v. To raise with, or as with, a windlass; to use a windlass.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds