stowce means 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. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 89 out of 100.
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.
noun
- 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.“When a person discovers a vein, and has no means to possess it for want of stowces, he marks the ground with crosses and holes, by which means he possesses it until he can procure stowces.”