winch

A machine consisting of a drum on an axle, a friction brake or ratchet and pawl, and a crank handle or prime mover (often an electric or hydraulic motor), with or without gearing, to give increased mechanical advantage when hoisting or hauling on a rope or cable.

A hoisting device used for loading or unloading cargo, or for pulling in lines.

• It runs on clattering steel tracks; the driver sits in a cab over the tracks, operating the controls that rotate the arm and turn the winch.

A wince (machine used in dyeing or steeping cloth).

A kick, as of an animal, from impatience or uneasiness.

• the mule[…]being likewise frighted by that terrible blow, ran away as fast as it could about the fields, and within two or three winches overthrew him to the ground

A witch.Nigeriaslang

To use a winch

• Winch in those sails, lad!

To wince; to shrink

• It is not the first time a cat-o'-nine-tails has been across my back for other men's misdeeds. Promise me a good flask of brandy when I'm done with it, and I warrant ye I'll never winch.

To kick with impatience or uneasiness.

to courtScotlandambitransitivecolloquial

• They “clicked” each other, kidded each other, and by and by they would “winch” and marry each other.
• It was common knowledge that he'd winched dozens of girls while she had been sharing a bedroom with her two brothers.

to kiss, snogScotlandambitransitivecolloquial

• She turned and looked at me, amused, gave a wee chuckle, kissed me on the mouth hard and quick, and again, and we were kissing for real, lingering, soft and moist and warm, me and Jeannie winching, and I wanted it not to stop.
• Up at the cinema Campbell Cameron had been all slithering hands, like a dirty octopus. Even his tenderest winching had felt entitled and demanding.