Definitions for capstan
ˈkæp stən, -stæncap·stan

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. capstannoun

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

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. capstannoun

   A vertical cleated drum or cylinder, revolving on an upright spindle, and surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for bars or levers. It is much used, especially on shipboard, for moving or raising heavy weights or exerting great power by traction upon a rope or cable, passing around the drum. It is operated either by steam power or by a number of men walking around the capstan, each pushing on the end of a lever fixed in its socket.

2. capstannoun

   A rotating spindle used to move recording tape through the mechanism of a tape recorder.

3. Etymology: cabestan, from cabestrante, cabrestante, from cabestrar to bind with a halter, from cabestrohalter, from capistrum halter, from capere to hold (see capacious); or perhaps the Spanish is from caper goat + -stans, present participle of stare to stand; confer chèvre she-goat, also a machine for raising heavy weights.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Capstannoun

   A cylinder, with levers to wind up any great weight, particularly to raise the anchors.

   Etymology: corruptly called capstern; cabestan, Fr.

   The weighing of anchors by the capstan, is also new. Walter Raleigh, Essays.

   No more behold thee turn my watch’s key,
   As seamen at a capstan anchors weigh. Jonathan Swift.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. capstan

   A capstan is a type of mechanical device used on ships to wind heavy ropes or cables around in order to lift weights or to apply force. It consists of a vertical-axled rotating machine, typically a drum shape, used to apply force to another element or to control or maintain tension during a mechanical process. It can also refer to a similar device used in tape recorders or film projectors to control the speed of the tape or film.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Capstannoun

   a vertical cleated drum or cylinder, revolving on an upright spindle, and surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for bars or levers. It is much used, especially on shipboard, for moving or raising heavy weights or exerting great power by traction upon a rope or cable, passing around the drum. It is operated either by steam power or by a number of men walking around the capstan, each pushing on the end of a lever fixed in its socket

2. Etymology: [F. cabestan, fr. Sp. cabestrante, cabrestante, fr. cabestrar to bind with a halter, fr. cabestrohalter, fr. L. capistrum halter, fr. capere to hold (see Capacious); or perh. the Spanish is fr. L. caper goat + stans, p. pr. of stare to stand; cf. F. chvre she-goat, also a machine for raising heavy weights.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Capstan

   A capstan is a vertical-axled rotating machine developed for use on sailing ships to apply force to ropes, cables, and hawsers. The principle is similar to that of the windlass, which has a horizontal axle.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Capstan

   kap′stan, n. an upright machine turned by spokes so as to wind upon it a cable which draws something, generally the anchor, on board ship. [Fr. cabestan, capestan, through Low L. forms from L. capĕre, to take, hold.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. capstan

   A mechanical arrangement for lifting great weights. There is a variety of capsterns, but they agree in having a horizontal circular head, which has square holes around its edge, and in these long bars are shipped, and are said to be "swifted" when their outer ends are traced together; beneath is a perpendicular barrel, round which is wrapped the rope or chain used to lift the anchor or other great weight, even to the heaving a ship off a shoal. Now, in most ships where a capstern is used to lift the anchor, the chain cable is itself brought to the capstern. The purchase or lifting power is gained by the great sweep of the bars. A perpendicular iron spindle passes through the whole capstern, and is stepped into a socket on the deck below the one on which it stands. In some cases capsterns are double in height, so that bars may be worked on two decks, giving more room for the men.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. capstan

   A strong, massy column of timber, formed somewhat like a truncated cone, and having its upper extremity pierced to receive bars, or levers, for winding a rope round it, to move great weights, or to exert great power; used in moving heavy guns considerable distances; called also a crab.

Matched Categories

1. • Windlass

Anagrams for capstan »

1. catnaps

2. cat naps

How to pronounce capstan?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say capstan in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of capstan in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of capstan in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=capstan
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Capstan
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=capstan
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capstan
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=capstan
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=capstan
8. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=capstan
9. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html