pr. of
stare to stand; cf. F.
chèvre she-goat, also
a machine for raising heavy weights.]
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. [Sometimes spelt
Capstern, but improperly.]
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.Cap"stone` (?), n. (Paleon.)
A fossil echinus of the genus Cannulus; -- so called
from its supposed resemblance to a cap.
{ Cap"su*lar (?), Cap"su*la*ry (?), }
a.
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