winch

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

winch, v. i. [See Wince.].

 To wince; to shrink; to kick with impatience or uneasiness.  [1913 Webster]

winch, n. 

 A kick, as of a beast, from impatience or uneasiness.  Shelton.  [1913 Webster]

winch, n. [OE. winche, AS. wince a winch, a reel to wind thread upon. Cf. Wink.].

•  A crank with a handle, for giving motion to a machine, a grindstone, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  An instrument with which to turn or strain something forcibly.  [1913 Webster]
•  An axle or drum turned by a crank with a handle, or by power, for raising weights, as from the hold of a ship, from mines, etc.; a windlass.  [1913 Webster]
•  A wince.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

winch, n. & v.
--n.
1 the crank of a wheel or axle.
2 a windlass.
3 the reel of a fishing-rod.
4 = WINCE(2).
--v.tr. lift with a winch.

Derivative

wincher n.

Etymology

OE wince f. Gmc: cf. WINCE(1)

ROGET THESAURUS

winch

Instrument

N instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial.

Elevation

N elevation, raising, erection, lift, sublevation, upheaval, sublimation, exaltation, prominence, lever, crane, derrick, windlass, capstan, winch, dredge, dredger, dredging machine, dumbwaiter, elevator, escalator, lift, elevated, stilted, attollent, rampant, on stilts, on the shoulders of, on one's legs, on one's hind legs.