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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Wyndas, -es, Windas, -es(e, n. Also: wyndys, -ois, -ais, windis, -o(u)s(s, -us, -ow(se, winds-, wendes, waindes, wyndles, windol(l)is, windells, -olls, winlasse. [ME and e.m.E. wyndase (1293), wyndas (1295), wynlase (c1400), weyndas (1404), wyndelas (Prompt. Parv.), windos (1578), windas (1627), AF windas, OF guindas, ON vindáss, MLG, MDu. windas.]

1. A windlass, a winching mechanism for lifting heavy goods. Also appar. uninfl. pl. or construed as pl., hence sing. form with omission of final s.(a) ?14.. Ship Laws c. 28 (B).
Of schewing of wyndyng wyndys and cordis a maystyr of a schip aw to schaw til his schipmen his wyndyng his wyndes and his cordys … For gyf a ton … be tynte in the wyndyng or in fawte of the cordis the maystyr aw to mak thaim gude 1460 Hay Alex. 5435.
The chenȝis maid of irne and of bras, And till grovand akis festynnyt was With wyndas tetit attoure the gret ryver 1515 Treas. Acc. V 17.
For the … making of crane and wyndais for fourtene pecis of artalȝery gret and small 1528 Wemyss Chart. 277.
[If the coals were won] be potts and drawen up be windoses, kreills, or other wayes 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 83.
Wyndois 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 207.
For ane gret cordell to the windes for hesing and uplifting of gret stanis iii lib. xii s. 1538 Soc. Ant. II 403.
Ane extre of wyndes wyt the collar of the samyn 1557 Edinb. Old Acc. I 211.
To Adam Purves for setting of the wyndes, viij s. 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. II 95.
For xviij faddom of ane gret cobill tow to the wyndais that drew owpe the cradill c1575 Balfour Pract. 620.
Windis 1609 Mining Rec. 152.
Helping to mak and sett the windes over the somp and drawing the watter out of it 1644 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 99b.
For making of ane new fall head to the windes 1672 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 11b.
For wricht work at the windoussis 1683 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 23 June.
For fliting the windises from one chaft to ane other 1691 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
Windoss 1692 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 10 Dec.
For a pound of creash to the windes(b) 1554 Edinb. Old Acc. I 111.
For ane ra of ane schip to be ane wendes, xij s. 1560 Edinb. Old Acc. I 315.
For making of the skaffald and wendes, x s.(c) 1556 Edinb. Old Acc. I 192.
For ane cabill tow to the waindes(d) 1616 Aberd. B. Rec. II 342.
Ane wyndles for heising vp of stanes(e) a1650 Buchanan's Hist. MS Index.
Trochlea, a pullie or winlasse to lift heavie things(f) 1671 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 1b.
For ane horse again at the windolls & sex daills to Dauid Thomsone 25 pund yron to the windolls 1671 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 3b.
To 4 coilȝears for lifting the windolis 1671 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 6b.
For ane great tow to the windells 1672 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 12b.
For 9 fadom tows to the windollis(g) 1691 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
For a pwnd of creishe to the window 1691 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
For a window and bucket

b. transf. A windlass operator. ?14.. Ship Laws c. 28 (B).
The schyp men aucht to parte the skathis wyth the maystyr of als mykyl as thai tak of the wyndyng and the wyndas is haldyn for to restor the fryst skath and the lafe sal be partyt betwx thaim of the schip

c. attrib.With hous, man and parts of a windlass such as arme, row, spake, tow, wadge.Cf. wynding spakis (Wyndyng vbl. n.¹) and Wyndspakis n. pl.(1) 1646 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 244b.
To be ane windes hous … 5 draucht [sc. of timber](2) 1607 Reg. Privy C. VII 434.
Gif ony mynner, pikman, windaisman, fyreman, or woirkman quhatsumevir, hyrit at ony of the mynis … depairt frome the same without licence [etc.] 1608 Mining Rec. 149.
For three leadis of brome to mak covers for the schaftis to cover the windes men fra the injurie of the wedder xl s. 1610 Dundonald Par. Rec. 209.
James Lov, windesman at the Heuch 1641 Acts V (1817) 509.
It is … ordanit that na persone sall hyre … any wattermen and windusmen [Acts V (1870) 419/2, windsmen] … without ane testimoniall of the maister quhome they serve(3) 1678 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt.
To mending a window arme — 1647 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 259b (see Rol(l n.¹ 17).
Windes row — 1512–13 Treas. Acc. IV 508.
Ane dusan akyn sperris to mak wyndes spakis — 1646 Tulliallan Coal Wks. 244b.
3 draucht off windes tous — 16… Information of Coalheugh at Campbell in Argyll Mun. (Estates & Forfeitures) MS.
The out reach of money forr the windowse wadges is verrie expensive so that the proffit is bot litle

2. The winch mechanism used to draw a cross-bow. 1506 Treas. Acc. III 204.
For … grathing of the kingis corsbow and windes 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 327.
For tua croce bowis with tua windas, v li. 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 188.
Deliverit to the croce bowmaker for ane croce bow to the kingis grace windessis and crannikinnis and stringis, witht uthir small geir furnesit be him thairto

b. attrib. With cord. 1504 Treas. Acc. II 466.
For iij pair wyndes [Crim. Trials I i 123, wyndese] cordis for corsbowis vj s. 1506–7 Treas. Acc. III 362.
To William Malcum in Edinburgh for stringis to the kingis cors bow, windes, cordis, and grathing of thaim xxiij s. 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 327.
For tua croce bowis with tua windas, v li., and for xiij croce bow stringis, and vij pair wyndasis cordis, xl s. 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 326.
For stringis and windes cordis to the kingis graces crocebowis 1541 Treas. Acc. VII 482.
To Johnne Tesart, crocebowmakar, for stringis, windessis, windes cordis … vj li. iiij s.