A vertical cylindrical machine that revolves on a spindle, used to apply force to ropes, cables, etc. It is typically surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for levers used to turn it.
A rotating spindle used to move recording tape through the mechanism of a tape recorder.
Origin
Borrowed into Middle English from either Old French cabestan, from Old Occitan cabestan, from cabestre or from Spanish cabestran, both of which derive from Latin capistrum ("halter"), from capiĆ.
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