1-Stop Dictionary Reference

Windlass

Acceptable For Game Play - US & UK word lists

This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

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.

v. To raise with a windlass.

Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

n. Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights

v. To raise with, or as if with, a windlass; to use a windlass.

the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English

n. A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course; a shift.

verb-intransitive. To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means.

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.

n. An apparatus resembling a winch or windlass, for bending the bow of an arblast, or crossbow.

v. To raise with, or as with, a windlass; to use a windlass.

The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

n. A hand or power machine for drawing a package of staves together to form a barrel.

n. A winding or turning; a circuitous course; a circuit.

n. Any indirect, artful course; circumvention; art and contrivance; subtleties.

To take a circuitous path; fetch a compass.

To adopt a circuitous, artful, or cunning course; use stratagem; act indirectly or warily.

To bend; turn about; bewilder.

n. A modification of the wheel and axle, used for raising weights, etc.

n. A handle by which anything is turned; specifically, a winch-like contrivance for bending the arbalist or crossbow. See crossbow.

To use a windlass; raise something as by a windlass.

To hoist or haul by means of a windlass.

WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

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

Word Usage

"I remember when I was a little girl back on the farm in the Souris Valley, I used to water the cattle on Saturday mornings, drawing the water in an icy bucket with a windlass from a fairly deep well."

Verb Form

windlassed windlasses windlassing

Hypernym

Words that are more generic or abstract

lifting device

Cross Reference

Spanish windlass Spanish Chinese windlass differential

Hyponym

yarder yard donkey capstan

Synonym

Words with the same meaning

shift roll roller capstan hurdy-gurdy

Same Context

Words that are found in similar contexts

winch capstan pulley saw scaffolding