Any of various forms of winch, in which a rope or cable is wound around a cylinder, used for lifting heavy weights / A winding and circuitous way; a roundabout course.

To raise with, or as if with, a windlass; to use a windlass. / To take a roundabout course; to work warily or by indirect means.

plural of windlass

present participle of windlass

simple past tense and past participle of windlass

plural of windlasser

A person who operates a windlass.

(nautical) A wooden roller, with a rope wound about it, into which a marlinspike is thrust to serve as a lever.

plural of Spanish windlass