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 hauling on a rope or cable.
"The crew had to manually crank the winch to haul the heavy sail up after the line snapped in the storm."
To use a winch
"He winced as the sharp pain shot through his knee after falling off the bike."
To wince; to shrink
Winchester (a city in England)
"The driver got lost and ended up driving straight into the historic streets of Winchester instead of London."