capstan

noun

1. (especially)A vertical cylindrical machine that revolves on a spindle, typically surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for levers for turning it; used to apply force to cables, ropes, etc.

   “to pawl the capstan”

   “to rig the capstan”

   “to surge the capstan”

   “"Man the capstan! Blood and thunder!—jump!"—was the next command, and the crew sprang for the handspikes.”

   “We toiled over the capstan, and late in the afternoon slipped out of the harbour.”

2. A rotating spindle used to move recording tape through the mechanism of a tape recorder.
3. a screw on the rising side of a piano key, which serves the function of lifting the wippen when the key is depressed

   “The upward force of the capstan causes the wippen to rise, thrusting the jack upward into another component called the “knuckle” that is fixed to one end of the hammer shank.”