windlass
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /ˈwɪnd.ləs/
Noun

windlass (plural windlasses)

  1. Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights
  2. A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course.
    • 1599, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Ham II. i. 65:
      With windlasses and with assays of bias, / By indirections find directions out.
  3. An apparatus resembling a winch or windlass, for bending the bow of an arblast, or crossbow.
Translations Verb

windlass (windlasses, present participle windlassing; past and past participle windlassed)

  1. To raise with, or as if with, a windlass; to use a windlass.
  2. To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means.



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