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windlass
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As a noun, windlass means any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights. As a verb, it means raise with, or as if with, a windlass.
Meanings of windlass
6 meaningsnoun
Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights
A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course.
An apparatus resembling a winch or windlass, for bending the bow of an arblast, or crossbow.
Lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds
Similar: winch
verb
To raise with, or as if with, a windlass; to use a windlass.
To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means.
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).