Obs. Forms: 6 wynd(e)-, winlesse, windlas(se, (-laies ?), wyndlas(s)e, -lace, 6–7 windlace, -lesse, 7 -lass, winde-lase, (8 windlatch). [Alteration of WANLACE, by association with WIND v.1 and perh. with prec. sb.]
1. A circuit made to intercept the game in hunting (= WANLACE 1); gen. a circuit, circuitous movement: esp. in phr. to fetch a windlass, to make a circuit, go round about, ‘fetch a compass.’
1530. Palsgr., 231. Hewar that fetteth the wyndelesse in huntyng.
1563. Golding, Cæsar, VII. (1565), 206. Bidding them fetche a windlasse a great waye about, and to make al toward one place. Ibid. (1567), Ovid’s Met., VII. 93 b. He runnes not forth directly out, Nor makes a windlasse ouer all the champion fieldes about.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 270. I now fetching a windlesse, that I myght better haue a shoote, was preuented with ready game.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XIV. xxxiv. The beauies faire of Shepheards daughters bold, With wanton winde laies ronne, turne, play and pas.
1602. R. Carew, Cornwall, 75. Sometimes a foote-man … will carry the same quite backwards, and so, at last, get to the goale by a windlace.
2. fig. A circuitous course of action; a roundabout proceeding; a crafty device (= WANLACE 3).
a. 1569. Kingesmyll, Man’s Est., Godly Adv. (1574), I vij. With suche winlesses some are dryuen into the net.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 55. And heer iz my windlesse, lyke yoor coorse as pleaz ye.
1575. Mirr. Mag., Humfrey Dk. Glouc., xlvi. Which by slye driftes, and wyndlaces aloofe, They brought about.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. i. 65. With windlasses and with assays of bias.
1617. Collins, Def. Bp. Ely, II. viii. 317. These were the trances, and the windlaces of the first Iesuites.
1631. [Mabbe], Celestina, IV. 54. What a wind-lace hast thou fetcht, with what words hast thou come upon me?
a. 1734. North, Exam., II. iv. § 143 (1740), 307. The former are brought forth, by a Windlatch of a Trial, to charge the latter with the foulest of Crimes.
