windlass

Where does the word "windlass" come from? It comes from Old Norse vindáss, passing through Anglo-Norman before entering English (1400s).

Windlass’s story begins in Old Norse: vindáss meant “winding beam.” 'winding pole', from 'vinda', to wind, and 'áss', pole. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Anglo-Norman as windas. Borrowed into the French of medieval England. It reached English by 1400s as windlass. Reshaped by the English verb 'windle', to wind. Today, windlass means a winch for hauling or hoisting, especially on a ship.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval vindáss "winding beam", 'winding pole', from 'vinda', to wind, and 'áss', pole.
2. Stage 2 · Anglo-Norman · 1200s windas "winch", borrowed into the French of medieval England.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s windlass "winch", reshaped by the English verb 'windle', to wind.