Jackspeak of the Royal Canadian Navy

Capstan

A large winch with a vertical axis. In the days of sail, a full-sized human-powered capstan was a waist-high cylindrical machine, operated by a number of hands who each insert a horizontal capstan bar in holes in the capstan and walk in a circle. Used to wind in anchors or other heavy objects; and sometimes to administer flogging over.

Added: 2014-11-01 Last modified: 2014-11-01