[TheForge] Tackle terminology?

[Dave Brown]

At 12:04 02/22/04, you wrote:
>I was a little surprised to see this.  Has anyone ever heard
>the term "nigger head" applied to a portion of a guy derrick?

Also known as a "Gypsy". It's a small auxiliary drum usually fitted on one 
or both ends of a winch or windlass. To use one, take one or more turns 
with the bight of the rope around the drum and take in or pay out the slack 
of the free end.  In the picture in the link you sent it's part of the 
donkey engine and windlass set up shown at the bottom left.

Dave Brown
Schooner Star II (former owner)