CAPSTAN, CABESTAN, CAPSTERN, CAPSTON, &c. A mechanical arrangement for lifting great weights. There is a variety of capsterns, but they agree in having a horizontal circular head, which has square holes around its edge, and in these long bars are shipped, and are said to be "swifted" when their outer ends are traced together; beneath is a perpendicular barrel, round which is wrapped the rope or chain used to lift the anchor or other great weight, even to the heaving a ship off a shoal. Now, in most ships where a capstern is used to lift the anchor, the chain cable is itself brought to the capstern. The purchase or lifting power is gained by the great sweep of the bars. A perpendicular iron spindle passes through the whole capstern, and is stepped into a socket on the deck below the one on which it stands. In some cases capsterns are double in height, so that bars may be worked on two decks, giving more room for the men. CAPSTAN, TO COME UP THE. In one sense is to lift the pauls and walk back, or turn the capstan the contrary way, thereby slackening, or letting out some of the rope on which they have been heaving. The sudden order would be obeyed by surging, or letting go any rope on which they were heaving. Synonymous to "Come up the purchase." CAPSTAN, TO HEAVE AT THE. To urge it round, by pushing against the bars, as already described. CAPSTAN, TO MAN THE. To place the sailors at it in readiness to heave. CAPSTAN, TO PAUL THE. To drop all the pauls into their sockets, to prevent the capstan from recoiling during any pause of heaving. CAPSTAN, TO RIG THE. To fix the bars in their respective holes, thrust in the pins to confine them, and reeve the swifter through the ends. CAPSTAN, SURGE THE. Is the order to slacken the rope which is wound round the barrel while heaving, to prevent it from riding or fouling. This term specially applies to surging the messenger when it rides, or when the two lashing eyes foul on the whelps or the barrel. CAPSTAN-BAR PINS. Pins inserted through their ends to prevent their unshipping. CAPSTAN-BARRING. An obsolete sea-punishment, in which the offender was sentenced to carry a capstan-bar during a watch. CAPSTAN-BARS. Long pieces of wood of the best ash or hickory, one end of which is thrust into the square holes in the drumhead, like the spokes of a wheel. They are used to heave the capstan round, by the men setting their hands and chests against them, and walking round. They are also held in their places in the drumhead holes, by little iron bolts called capstan or safety pins, to prevent their flying out when the surging overcomes the force of the men. Many men have been killed by this action, and more by the omission to "pin and swift." CAPSTAN-ROOM. _See_ ROOM. CAPSTAN-STEP. (_See_ STEP OF THE CAPSTAN.) The men march round to the tune of a fiddle or fife, and the phrase of excitement is, "Step out, lads, make your feet tell."