1
: a machine for moving or raising heavy weights that consists of a vertical drum which can be rotated and around which cable is turned
2
: a rotating shaft that drives tape at a constant speed in a recorder
Examples of capstan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Such is the ship’s condition that some of her rigging is still in place, while her wooden capstan and bilge pump are also visible.
—
Fox News, 23 July 2019
Various rare items were also visible aboard the ancient wreck, including a wooden bilge pump and a capstan, a wide cylinder used for winding up lengths of rope.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 22 July 2019
Cranes, windlasses and capstans (ancient water-raising devices based on a kind of swinging, see-saw design) may well have inspired the use of counterweights in early elevators and hoists.
—Adrienne Bernhard, Smithsonian, 27 Apr. 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Fox News, 23 July 2019
Various rare items were also visible aboard the ancient wreck, including a wooden bilge pump and a capstan, a wide cylinder used for winding up lengths of rope.
—William J. Broad, New York Times, 22 July 2019
Cranes, windlasses and capstans (ancient water-raising devices based on a kind of swinging, see-saw design) may well have inspired the use of counterweights in early elevators and hoists.
—Adrienne Bernhard, Smithsonian, 27 Apr. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near capstan
Cite this Entry
“Capstan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capstan. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
capstan
noun
cap·stan
ˈkap-stən 
-ˌstan
: a device that consists of a drum to which a rope is fastened and that is used especially on ships for moving or raising weights
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share