winch

¹ American  

[winch] / wɪntʃ /

noun

1. the crank or handle of a revolving machine.

2. a windlass turned by a crank, for hoisting or hauling.

3. any of various devices for cranking.

4. Textiles. Also

   1. any machine equipped with rollers that guide cloth through a dye or finishing solution in an open vat.

   2. a roller between two dyeing vats for passing cloth from one vat to another.

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verb (used with object)

1. to hoist or haul (a load) by means of a winch.

winch ² American  

[winch] / wɪntʃ /

verb (used without object)

Archaic.

1. an archaic variant of wince.

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winch ¹ British  

/ wɪntʃ /

noun

1. a windlass driven by a hand- or power-operated crank

2. a hand- or power-operated crank by which a machine is driven

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verb

1. (tr; often foll by up or in) to pull (in a rope) or lift (a weight) using a winch

winch ² British  

/ wɪntʃ /

verb

1. (intr) an obsolete word for wince 1

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Other Word Forms

• wincher noun

Etymology

Origin of winch

before 1050; Middle English winche, Old English wince pulley; akin to wench, wince ¹, wink ¹

Example Sentences

Behind her were two 20-tonne narrowboats waiting to be rescued by an imposing winch machine in a nearby field with the help of a specialist excavator.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

They used a winch system to pull the crane off the ship, while a crew member adjusted the ballast of the vessel to ensure it stayed level with the dock.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

The footage shows the Terra Nova colonised with sea life, but key features of the wooden ship are still visible including its wheel, winch and mast.

From BBC • Sep. 2, 2025

Using a powerful winch, the M88 recovery vehicle can pull something that weighs up to 140,000 pounds out of trouble or lift a vehicle weighing up to 35,000 pounds using its crane-like boom.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2025

Being so close to her old house made Reyna feel ratcheted tight like a catapult winch.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan