stowce

Meanings

1. A windlass, a device for drawing ore up from a mine, also formerly used (when made entirely of wood) to indicate possession of mining land.

Etymology

The OED, mentioning the variant forms stose, stoce, stowse, and stow, says it is "of obscure origin; possibly a contraction of stothes pl. of stothe" i.e. stooth; however, compare stow.