windlass
wind luhs
- n lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds
- A workman sprang to a windlass operating one of the furnace doors.
- A windlass in the mooring mast hauled the cable upwards and taking out its slack drew the airship's nose into an automatically locking swivel at the very top of the tower.
- The windlass dial registered 356 meters.