windlass

Definition

A mechanical device consisting of a rotating cylinder or drum around which rope or cable is wound, used to lift, lower, or move heavy objects. Windlasses are commonly found on ships for raising anchors, and on construction sites or in well systems.

Example Usage

The ship's crew used the windlass to haul up the anchor as they prepared to set sail.

Origin

From Old Norse 'vindáss' (wind + axis), entered English in the 15th century via maritime vocabulary

Fun Fact

Hand-cranked windlasses were essential technology for deep-well drilling in agricultural communities for centuries before electric motors replaced them.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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