capstan
Pronunciation: /ˈkæp.stən/
The English word “capstan” has 3 meanings listed here.
noun
- A vertical cylindrical machine that revolves on a spindle, typically surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for levers for turning it; used to apply force to cables, ropes, etc.
- A rotating spindle used to move recording tape through the mechanism of a tape recorder.
- a screw on the rising side of a piano key, which serves the function of lifting the wippen when the key is depressed
Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from either Old French cabestan, from Old Occitan cabestan, from cabestre (“pulley cord”) or from Spanish cabestran, both of which derive from Latin capistrum (“halter”), from capiō (“take hold of”).
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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.