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Windlass
Definitions
- 1 Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights
- 2 lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds wordnet
- 3 A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course.
"With windlasses and with assays of bias, / By indirections find directions out."
- 4 An apparatus resembling a winch or windlass, for bending the bow of an arblast, or crossbow.
- 1 To raise with, or as if with, a windlass; to use a windlass.
"A favoring breeze enabled us to sail all the way down the lake, and (having been windlassed across the haul-over) even down the canals."
- 2 To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means.
"He could not expect to allure him forward, and therefore drives him as far back as he can; that so he may be the more sure of him at the rebound; as a skilful woodsman, that by windlassing presently gets a shoot, which, without taking a compass and thereby a commodious stand, he could never have obtained."
Etymology
From Middle English wyndlas, wyndelas, wyndlasse, wyndelasse, probably an alteration (due to Middle English windel) of Middle English windas, wyndas, wyndace, from Anglo-Norman windase, windeis and Old Northern French windas (compare Old French guindas, Medieval Latin windasius, windasa), from Old Norse vindáss (“windlass”, literally “winding-pole”), from vinda (“to wind”) + áss (“pole”). Compare Icelandic vindilass.
From Middle English wyndlas, wyndelas, wyndlasse, wyndelasse, probably an alteration (due to Middle English windel) of Middle English windas, wyndas, wyndace, from Anglo-Norman windase, windeis and Old Northern French windas (compare Old French guindas, Medieval Latin windasius, windasa), from Old Norse vindáss (“windlass”, literally “winding-pole”), from vinda (“to wind”) + áss (“pole”). Compare Icelandic vindilass.
See also for "windlass"
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