Windlass

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈwɪnd.lÉ™s/

Origin

Middle English windels or windas, Old Norse vindass, from vinda ("to wind") + ass ("pole"). Confer Icelandic vindilass.

Full definition of windlass

Noun

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, , 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.

Verb

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.