Windlass
Windlass , noun
[Perhaps from wind to turn + lace.]
A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course; a shift.
Windlass , intransitive verb
To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means. [Obsolete] — Hammond
Windlass , noun
[Old English windelas, windas, Icelandic vindilāss, vindās, from vinda to wind + āss a pole; compare Gothic ans a beam. See Wind to turn.]
1.
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.
2.
An apparatus resembling a winch or windlass, for bending the bow of an arblast, or crossbow. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare
Collocations (1)
Chinese windlass , See Differential windlass, under Differential.
Windlass , verb, transitive and intransitive
To raise with, or as with, a windlass; to use a windlass. — The Century