winch

1 of 2

noun

ˈwinch 

1

: any of various machines or instruments for hauling or pulling

especially : a powerful machine with one or more drums on which to coil a rope, cable, or chain for hauling or hoisting : windlass

2

: a crank with a handle for giving motion to a machine (such as a grindstone)

Illustration of winch

• winch 1

winch

2 of 2

verb

winched; winching; winches

transitive verb

: to hoist or haul with or as if with a winch

wincher noun

Examples of winch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After running for a while, the bull was wrangled in the middle of the interstate and refused to move, Wade said, noting that crews were finally able to get the bull on a plastic glide and then used a winch to load him into a trailer. —Gabrielle Chenault, The Tennessean, 25 Nov. 2024

As a flying kite pulls on the winch, the tension generates electricity on the ground. —IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2019

Verb

Some of these phenomena involve thousands of miles of travel, booking helicopter trips or winching yourself into a climbing harness. —Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 2025

Moreover, as the ramp winched open, the pilots would have experienced a sudden drop in temperature and heard a deafening roar above the whine of the Skyvan’s engines. —Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English winche roller, reel, from Old English wince; akin to Old English wincian to wink

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1529, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

winch

noun

ˈwinch

: a machine that has a roller on which a rope, cable, or chain is wound for pulling or lifting