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capstan

Nautical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A vertical, rotating barrel used to apply massive force via horizontal bars pushed by crewmen.

Detailed Definition
The capstan is the great wooden winch of the old sailing ship, a towering cylinder around which men walk in a circle, pushing bars to raise the anchor or hoist heavy loads. In poetry, it is an image of collective labor, cyclic motion, and the power of many small efforts combined. The walking of the capstan—often accompanied by a shanty—creates a rhythm of communal endurance, a slow, grinding dance that binds the crew together. Poets use the capstan to discuss democratic effort, the turning wheel of fate, and the relentless, almost mythical, labor that underpins all maritime achievement. Its vertical stance also suggests a pillar of the community.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Walk her round: the sailors are walking around the capstan as they push on the capstan bars” (Kipling, Anchor Song).; “I’ve left my girl in Melbourne town … and I’ll love my girl for ever” (A Capstan Chantey).; “Up on the little slope behind the houses … is an ancient wooden capstan, cracked” (Elizabeth Bishop, At the Fishhouses).; The capstan in poetry symbolizes collective labor, cyclic motion, and the power of many small efforts combined.; Poets use the capstan to evoke the grinding, mythical labor that underpins all maritime achievement.; The capstan’s vertical stance suggests a pillar of community and shared purpose.
Additional Notes
The capstan is a mighty vertical winch, a drum powered by crewmen walking in a circle, pushing bars to raise the anchor or hoist heavy loads. In poetry, it is a powerful symbol of collective labor, the cyclic motion of persistent effort, and the amplification of individual strength through community. The walking of the capstan, often accompanied by a rhythmic sea shanty, creates a scene of communal endurance, a slow, grinding dance that binds the crew together. Poets use the capstan to discuss democratic effort, the turning wheel of fate, and the relentless, almost mythic, labor that underpins all maritime achievement. Its vertical, pillar-like stance also suggests a central, uniting force, a physical and social axis around which the ship's life revolves.
Also Known As
Capstan bar windlass (sometimes confused)
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