Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mechanical device consisting of a vertical drum or cylinder that can be rotated horizontally. It is used to apply force to ropes, cables, or chains, typically for pulling or lifting heavy objects, especially on ships.

Usage

• The primary use of a capstan is in maritime contexts for tasks like raising a ship's anchor (weighing anchor) or hoisting heavy sails by winding in a cable or rope.
• It is operated by sailors pushing on horizontal bars (called capstan bars) inserted into the drum, allowing multiple people to apply force together.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The sailors turned the capstan to raise the heavy anchor from the seabed.
  • A traditional wooden capstan was a common sight on the decks of old sailing ships.

Advanced Usage

• "Capstan winch": A more specific term for a capstan used as a type of winch, emphasizing its winding function.
  • The yacht was equipped with an electric capstan winch for handling the mooring lines.
• "Capstan and bowstring": A historical phrase referring to a method of torture, but this is an archaic and specialized usage unrelated to the primary nautical meaning.

Variants and Related Words

• Capstan bar (n): A removable wooden or metal lever inserted into the head of a capstan to turn it.
  • Each sailor took a capstan bar and began to walk in a circle.
• Windlass (n): A general term for a similar hauling or lifting device. A capstan is a specific type of windlass with a vertical axis.

Synonyms

• Winch: A broader term for a machine used for hauling or lifting.
• Hoist: A device for lifting or raising something.

Related Phrases

• "To man the capstan": A nautical command for sailors to take their positions to operate the capstan.
  • The captain gave the order to man the capstan and prepare to set sail.
• "Capstan lathe": A type of lathe used in engineering. This is a different, specialized use of the word in manufacturing, named for its resemblance to the ship's device in having a rotating spindle.

Noun

1. a windlass rotated in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis; used on ships for weighing anchor or raising heavy sails