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A bar or lever, generally of wood, used in a windlass or capstan, for heaving anchor, and, in modified forms, for various purposes.
1838 (date written), L E L, chapter XXIII, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances., volume I, London: Henry Colburn,, published 1842, →OCLC, page 292:
I would not take a rood of land from Frederic to be appointed to a man-of-war to-morrow morning, for I looked on it as his (God grant it may be long ere he touch it!) ever since I was the height of a handspike.
