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Please help a stranger: Windlass meaning!

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KurtinStGeorge:
Another way to better understand the windlass is to compare the idea of the windlass on sailing ship with that of an airship.  On a sailing ship the windlass was a large wheel with spokes attached.  The windless was typically attached to the ship's anchor chains or anchor rope.  Men would line up along the spokes and push against them to raise the ship's anchor from sea floor.  The windlass could be attached to other things by rope in order to lift them aboard ship or to move them in order to be repaired or replaced, like cannons, ships spars or cargo, but it's most common use was on the anchor.  No matter how it was used it was definitely drudge work done by common sailors and not as exiting as actually sailing the ship.

So an aeronaut's  windlass just moves the airship up or down, but it's still drudge work, and again rather boring work.   

Penfold:
In spirit of curious English words here's some for ya... Ria, tundish and rodomontade

Bit of the topic but hey.

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