Word
winch
US/ˈwɪntʃ/
UK/wˈɪntʃ/
Definitions
01lifting machine
n. a machine with a rope or chain wound around a drum, used for pulling or lifting heavy objects.
n. a mechanical device consisting of a drum on an axle, used for hoisting or hauling heavy loads by winding a rope or cable.
“The truck used a powerful winch to pull the car out of the deep mud.”
“The sailors operated the electric winch to haul the heavy anchor back onto the deck before the storm arrived.”
Technical
03to kiss or date
v. to kiss someone or to be in a romantic relationship with them.
v. to engage in romantic courting or to kiss passionately; this usage is specific to Scottish dialects.
“They were seen winching in the corner of the pub last night.”
“In certain parts of Scotland, you might hear someone ask if their friend is still winching that girl from the neighbouring village.”
Dialect · Informal · British English
04a witch
n. a word for a witch, used in some parts of West Africa.
n. a slang term for a witch or someone believed to practice sorcery; primarily found in Nigerian English.
“In the local story, the old winch lived deep in the forest.”
“The term winch is frequently encountered in Nigerian popular culture and literature to describe a person suspected of malevolent supernatural powers.”
Slang · Dialect
Real-World Examples
“A pod of orcas recognise the sound of the vessel’s winch and pick off any mackerel that evade its vast net.” “Workers should weigh no more than 19.5st fully clothed so that they can be winched to safety in an emergency.” Etymology
From Middle English wynche, from Old English winċe, from Proto-Germanic winkijǭ, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European weng- (“to bow, bend, arch, curve”), whence also wink.
See wince.
Variant form of wench.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/winch