windlass

About 0.20 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights.
2. noun A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course.
3. noun An apparatus resembling a winch or windlass, for bending the bow of an arblast, or crossbow.
4. verb To raise with, or as if with, a windlass; to use a windlass.
5. verb To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means.

Similar words

winch windlace windless windles wrench crab windle winching winding winchline

Often followed by

and is to was or in for on with

Word family

windlassed windlasses windlassing