To surge the capstan

To surge the capstan
Capstan Cap"stan, n. [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. ch[`e]vre she-goat, also a machine for raising heavy weights.] 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. [Sometimes spelt {Capstern}, but improperly.] [1913 Webster]

{Capstan bar}, one of the long bars or levers by which the capstan is worked; a handspike..

{To pawl the capstan}, to drop the pawls so that they will catch in the notches of the pawl ring, and prevent the capstan from turning back.

{To rig the capstan}, to prepare the for use, by putting the bars in the sockets.

{To surge the capstan}, to slack the tension of the rope or cable wound around it. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • To pawl the capstan — Capstan Cap stan, n. [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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To rig the capstan — Capstan Cap stan, n. [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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Capstan — Cap stan, n. [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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Capstan bar — Capstan Cap stan, n. [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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • surge — [sʉrj] n. [LME sourge, fountain, stream, prob. < OFr sourgeon < stem of sourdre, to rise < L surgere, to rise, spring up < * subsregere < subs , var. of sub (see SUB ) + regere, to direct (see RIGHT)] 1. a) a large mass of or as of …   English World dictionary

  • Surge — Surge, n. [L. surgere, surrectum, to raise, to rise; sub under + regere to direct: cf. OF. surgeon, sourgeon, fountain. See {Regent}, and cf. {Insurrection}, {Sortie}, {Source}.] 1. A spring; a fountain. [Obs.] Divers surges and springs of water …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Surge — Surge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Surged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Surging}.] [Cf. F. surgir to cast anchor, to land. Cf. {Surge}, n.] (Naut.) To let go or slacken suddenly, as a rope; as, to surge a hawser or messenger; also, to slacken the rope about (a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • surge — /serrj/, n., v., surged, surging. n. 1. a strong, wavelike, forward movement, rush, or sweep: the onward surge of an angry mob. 2. a strong, swelling, wavelike volume or body of something: a billowing surge of smoke. 3. the rolling swell of the… …   Universalium

  • surge — /sɜdʒ / (say serj) noun 1. a strong forward or upward movement, rush, or sweep, like that of swelling or rolling waves: the onward surge of an angry mob. 2. a strong, wavelike volume or body of something: a surge of smoke. 3. the rolling swell of …  

  • surge — I. verb (surged; surging) Etymology: earlier, to ride (at anchor) probably in part from Middle French sourgir to cast anchor, land, from Catalan surgir to heave, cast anchor, from Latin surgere to rise, spring up; from sub up + regere to lead… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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