01 n. A vertical cleated drum or cylinder, revolving on an upright spindle, and surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for bars or levers. It is m…
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1.
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.
Phrases & compounds
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.