noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈkæp.stən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AE1 P S T AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: especially
Topics: nautical, transport
Examples
to pawl the capstan
to rig the capstan
to surge the capstan
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: cathead
2
noun
Meaning 2
A rotating spindle used to move recording tape through the mechanism of a tape recorder.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a screw on the rising side of a piano key, which serves the function of lifting the wippen when the key is depressed
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
a windlass rotated in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis; used on ships for weighing anchor or raising heavy sails
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: winch, windlass
History
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”).
Across languages
Translations
65 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
cabrestant
— cylindrical machine
Chinese Mandarin:
絞盤 /绞盘
(jiǎopán)
— cylindrical machine
Danish:
gangspil
— cylindrical machine
Danish:
spil
— cylindrical machine
Dutch:
kaapstander
— cylindrical machine
Finnish:
vintturi
— cylindrical machine
Finnish:
vorokki
— cylindrical machine
Finnish:
käyntikela
— cylindrical machine
Finnish:
ankkuripeli
— cylindrical machine
French:
cabestan
— cylindrical machine
German:
Spill
— cylindrical machine
German:
Gangspill
— cylindrical machine
German:
Ankerspill
— cylindrical machine
German:
Ankerwinde
— cylindrical machine
German:
Winde
— cylindrical machine
German:
Rollenantrieb
— cylindrical machine
German:
Capstan
— cylindrical machine
Ancient Greek:
ὁλκός
(holkós)
— cylindrical machine
Ancient Greek:
ἀνέμη
(anémē)
— cylindrical machine
