capstan

UK: /ˈkæpstən/ US: /ˈkæpstən, -stæn/ ,(kap′stən, -stan)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cap•stan /ˈkæpstən, -stæn/   n. [countable]

1. Mechanical Engineering, Nautical, Naval Terms a windlass rotated in a horizontal plane for winding in ropes, etc.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cap•stan  (kap′stən, -stan), n. 

1. Mechanical Engineering, Nautical, Naval Terms any of various windlasses, rotated in a horizontal plane by hand or machinery, for winding in ropes, cables, etc.
2. Sound Reproduction a rotating spindle or shaft, powered by an electric motor, that transports magnetic tape past the heads of a tape recorder at a constant speed.

• Latin capistrum
• Old Provencal cabestan, variant of cabestran, presumably present participle of *cabest(r)ar, a verb, verbal derivative of cabestre halter
• Middle French cabestan(t)
• Middle English 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

capstan / ˈkæpstən/ noun

1. a machine with a drum that rotates round a vertical spindle and is turned by a motor or lever, used for hauling in heavy ropes, etc
2. any similar device, such as the rotating shaft in a tape recorder that pulls the tape past the head

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old Provençal cabestan, from Latin capistrum a halter, from capere to seize