winze

¹ American  

[winz] / wɪnz /

Or windz

noun

Mining.

1. a vertical or inclined shaft driven downward from a drift into an orebody.

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winze ² American  

[winz] / wɪnz /

noun

Scot.

1. a curse.

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winze British  

/ wɪnz /

noun

1. mining a steeply inclined shaft, as for ventilation between levels

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Etymology

Origin of winze¹

1750–60; earlier winds, apparently derivative of wind ² in obsolete noun sense “apparatus for winding”

Origin of winze²

1775–85; perhaps < Dutch wens wish, wensen to wish; see wish

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

winze

But they had no time to speak—scarcely to think—for the water was already boiling up through the winze like a huge fountain, and filling the level.

From Deep Down, a Tale of the Cornish Mines by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

When the connection between levels is completed, a miner standing at the bottom usually refers to the opening as a rise, and when he goes to the top he calls it a winze.

From Principles of Mining Valuation, Organization and Administration by Herbert Hoover

At the first rush the water had almost filled the level where it occurred, and, sweeping onward about eight fathoms to a winze, plunged down and partly over it.

From Deep Down, a Tale of the Cornish Mines by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

There was no draught, such as he had believed would issue from the winze.

From The Copper Princess A Story of Lake Superior Mines by W. A. (William Allen) Rogers

“If he wasn’t there I could get up the winze, and then up to the next gallery by the ladders, so I’m all right.”

From The Vicar's People by George Manville Fenn