Capstern

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]