Nautical Term: Capstan-bar
Definition of Capstan-bar
A capstan-bar is a wooden implement that can be inserted into the head of a capstan for manual heaving. This is commonly used for raising heavy anchors or other objects by harnessing the power of human labor.
For instance, imagine a sailing ship during a storm. The anchor needs to be raised quickly, but the winds are too strong to use the sails or the ship’s windlass. In such a situation, the crew can use the capstan and the capstan-bars to raise the anchor manually. This allows the ship to navigate away from the dangerous storm.
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