Capstan

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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  • Capstan — may refer to:*Capstan (nautical), rotating machine used to control or apply force to another element. *Capstan (tape recorder), rotating spindles used to move recording tape. *Capstan (cigarette), a brand of British cigarette.ee also*Rack and… …   Wikipedia

  • Capstan —   [ kæpstən, englisch] der, s/ s, die Antriebswelle von Tonbandgeräten und Videorecordern, bewirkt den direkten Transport und bestimmt die Geschwindigkeit des Bandes, das durch eine Gummirolle (»pitch roller«) an den Capstan gedrückt wird …   Universal-Lexikon

  • capstan — late 14c., from O.Fr. cabestant, from O.Prov. cabestan, from capestre pulley cord, from L. capistrum halter, from capere to hold, take (see CAPABLE (Cf. capable)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • capstan — ► NOUN ▪ a broad revolving cylinder with a vertical axis, used for winding a rope or cable. ORIGIN Provençal cabestan, from Latin capere seize …   English terms dictionary

  • capstan — [kap′stən] n. [ME < OProv cabestan < ? L capistrum, halter, muzzle < capere, to take: see HAVE] 1. an apparatus, mainly on ships, around which cables or hawsers are wound for hoisting anchors, lifting weights, etc.: it consists of an… …   English World dictionary

  • Capstan — Cassettenfach mit Capstan, Andruckrolle, Ton und Löschkopf Ein Capstan (englisch für Spill), auch Tonwelle, ist eine rotierende Welle, die in Kombination mit einer Andruckrolle dazu dient, das Band in einem Bandgerät (Tonbandgerät,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • capstan — /kap steuhn, stan/, n. 1. any of various windlasses, rotated in a horizontal plane by hand or machinery, for winding in ropes, cables, etc. 2. a rotating spindle or shaft, powered by an electric motor, that transports magnetic tape past the heads …   Universalium

  • capstan — UK [ˈkæpstən] / US noun [countable] Word forms capstan : singular capstan plural capstans a round piece of equipment that you turn to wind a heavy rope, especially on a ship or at a port …   English dictionary

  • capstan — noun a) 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… …   Wiktionary

  • Capstan — Caps|tan [ kæpstən] der; s, s <aus gleichbed. engl. capstan, dies aus fr. cabestan »(Schiffs)winde«, zu lat. capistrare »anbinden«> Antriebswelle von Tonbandgeräten u. Videorekordern …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

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