winch

Definitions

• A machine consisting of a drum on an axle, a friction brake or ratchet and pawl, and a crank handle or prime mover (often an electric electric or hydraulic motor), with or without gearing, to give increased mechanical advantage when hauling on a rope or cable.
• (nautical) A hoisting machine used for loading or discharging cargo, or for hauling in lines. (FM 55-501).
• A wince (machine used in dyeing or steeping cloth).
• A kick, as of an animal, from impatience or uneasiness.