Armstrong

Slang

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

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armstrong

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adj.

hand-operated; requiring or worked by strength of arm (as opposed to machine power).

1920

The motorboat did not put in its appearance so we continued our navigation via the armstrong and elbow grease route.

1922

At ten feet they had to stop digging operations to make a hand-windlass, an "Armstrong hoist" we called it, and a wooden bucket.

1963

Hoisting the spoil with old-fashioned windlasses which were facetiously called "Armstrong Hoists" was another tedious chore.