I. ˈwinch noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English winche, from Old English wince; akin to Old English wincian to close one's eyes, blink — more at wink
1.
a. obsolete : roller , reel
b. : a roller placed between two dyeing vats in such a way that the fabric placed over the roller can be shifted from one vat to the other
2. : any of various machines or instruments for hauling or pulling: as
a. : a powerful machine having one or more barrels or drums on which to coil a rope, cable, or chain for hauling or hoisting : windlass
b. Britain : a reel for a fishing rod
c. : any of various textile machines having a roller for moving fabric through a vat during finishing and dyeing processes
3. : a crank with a handle for giving motion to a revolving part of a machine
[s]winch.jpg[/s] [
winch 2
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II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
1. : to hoist or haul with or as if with a winch
2. : to put into a dyeing vat by means of a winch
III.
archaic
variant of wince I