windlass
noun
wind·lass
| \ ˈwin(d)-ləs
\
\
Definition of windlass
(Entry 1 of 2)
: any of various machines for hoisting or hauling: such as
a
: a horizontal barrel supported on vertical posts and turned by a crank so that the hoisting rope is wound around the barrel
b
: a steam or electric winch with horizontal or vertical shaft and two drums used to raise a ship's anchor
windlass
verb
windlassed;
windlassing;
windlasses
Definition of windlass (Entry 2 of 2)
: to hoist or haul with a windlass
Examples of windlass in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Other artifacts that will help archaeologists further identify and date the shipwreck include ceramic dinnerware, glass bottles, stoneware jugs, an anchor, wire rope rigging, a windlass, and a ship's bell, reported NOAA. — Marcy De Luna, Houston Chronicle, "NOAA researchers discover two unexplored shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico," 30 July 2019 Most tourniquets are called windlass-style tourniquets. — Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "A Former Green Beret Rethinks the Standard-Issue Tourniquet," 16 Apr. 2019 Cranes, windlasses and capstans (ancient water-raising devices based on a kind of swinging, see-saw design) may well have inspired the use of counterweights in early elevators and hoists. — Adrienne Bernhard, Smithsonian, "Elevators Are Going Green," 27 Apr. 2018 Other artifacts that will help archaeologists further identify and date the shipwreck include ceramic dinnerware, glass bottles, stoneware jugs, an anchor, wire rope rigging, a windlass, and a ship's bell, reported NOAA. — Marcy De Luna, Houston Chronicle, "NOAA researchers discover two unexplored shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico," 30 July 2019 Most tourniquets are called windlass-style tourniquets. — Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "A Former Green Beret Rethinks the Standard-Issue Tourniquet," 16 Apr. 2019 Cranes, windlasses and capstans (ancient water-raising devices based on a kind of swinging, see-saw design) may well have inspired the use of counterweights in early elevators and hoists. — Adrienne Bernhard, Smithsonian, "Elevators Are Going Green," 27 Apr. 2018 The whole system is a combination of an anchor specifically designed to dig into the seabed, an enormous chain to keep it attached to the boat, and a windlass, the giant machine that lowers and raises an anchor by that chain. — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, "How Mega-Ships Drop Their Giant Anchors," 15 Aug. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'windlass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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