Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old Provençal
Origin: cabestan, from cabestre 'rope for leading an animal', probably from Latin capere 'to take, hold'

capstan

 noun
     
Related topics: Water
cap‧stan [countable]
TTW a round machine shaped like a drum, used to wind up a rope that pulls or lifts heavy objects
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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