| Library / English Dictionary |
WINDLASS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds
Synonyms:
winch; windlass
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("windlass" is a kind of...):
lifting device (a device for lifting heavy loads)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "windlass"):
capstan (a windlass rotated in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis; used on ships for weighing anchor or raising heavy sails)
yard donkey; yarder (a winch (or system of winches) powered by an engine and used to haul logs from a stump to a landing or to a skid road)
Holonyms ("windlass" is a part of...):
ship (a vessel that carries passengers or freight)
Context examples:
Fastening one end of a heavy tackle to the windlass, and with the other end fast to the butt of the foretopmast, I began to heave.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
It was an improved crank windlass, and the purchase it gave was enormous.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Maud held the turn on the windlass and coiled down while I heaved.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
A thought struck me. I ran to the windlass. It would not work. He had broken it. We looked at each other in consternation.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Everything in readiness, I made a line fast to the apex of the shears and carried it directly to the windlass.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
By means of deck-tackles I had arranged to carry the halyards forward to the windlass; and now I hoisted the mainsail, peak and throat, at the same time.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
The tackle dragged heavily across the rail, increasing its drag as the spar arose more and more out of the water, and the exertion on the windlass grew severe.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
So I lowered the big starboard anchor, giving plenty of slack; and by afternoon I was at work on the windlass.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
I was acquiring more confidence in myself and more confidence in the possibilities of windlasses, shears, and hoisting tackles.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Maud held the turn on the windlass and coiled down the slack.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
