Aweigh

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Anchor \An"chor\ ([a^][ng]"k[~e]r), n. [OE. anker, AS. ancor,
     oncer, L. ancora, sometimes spelt anchora, fr. Gr. 'a`gkyra,
     akin to E. angle: cf. F. ancre. See {Angle}, n.]
     1. A iron instrument which is attached to a ship by a cable
        (rope or chain), and which, being cast overboard, lays
        hold of the earth by a fluke or hook and thus retains the


        ship in a particular station.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The common anchor consists of a straight bar called a
           shank, having at one end a transverse bar called a
           stock, above which is a ring for the cable, and at the
           other end the crown, from which branch out two or more
           arms with flukes, forming with the shank a suitable
           angle to enter the ground.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Formerly the largest and strongest anchor was the sheet
           anchor (hence, Fig., best hope or last refuge), called
           also {waist anchor}. Now the bower and the sheet anchor
           are usually alike. Then came the best bower and the
           small bower (so called from being carried on the bows).
           The stream anchor is one fourth the weight of the bower
           anchor. Kedges or kedge anchors are light anchors used
           in warping.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any instrument or contrivance serving a purpose like that
        of a ship's anchor, as an arrangement of timber to hold a
        dam fast; a contrivance to hold the end of a bridge cable,
        or other similar part; a contrivance used by founders to
        hold the core of a mold in place.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Fig.: That which gives stability or security; that on
        which we place dependence for safety.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. --Heb.
                                                    vi. 19.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Her.) An emblem of hope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Arch.)
        (a) A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building
            together.
        (b) Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or
            arrowhead; -- a part of the ornaments of certain
            moldings. It is seen in the echinus, or egg-and-anchor
            (called also {egg-and-dart}, {egg-and-tongue})
            ornament.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Zool.) One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain
        sponges; also, one of the calcareous spinules of certain
        Holothurians, as in species of {Synapta}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Television) an {achorman}, {anchorwoman}, or
        {anchorperson}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Anchor ice}. See under {Ice}. 
  
     {Anchor light} See the vocabulary.
  
     {Anchor ring}. (Math.) Same as {Annulus}, 2 (b).
  
     {Anchor shot} See the vocabulary.
  
     {Anchor space} See the vocabulary.
  
     {Anchor stock} (Naut.), the crossbar at the top of the shank
        at right angles to the arms.
  
     {Anchor watch} See the vocabulary.
  
     {The anchor comes home}, when it drags over the bottom as the
        ship drifts.
  
     {Foul anchor}, the anchor when it hooks, or is entangled
        with, another anchor, or with a cable or wreck, or when
        the slack cable is entangled.
  
     {The anchor is acockbill}, when it is suspended
        perpendicularly from the cathead, ready to be let go.
  
     {The anchor is apeak}, when the cable is drawn in so tight as
        to bring the ship directly over it.
  
     {The anchor is atrip}, or {aweigh}, when it is lifted out of
        the ground.
  
     {The anchor is awash}, when it is hove up to the surface of
        the water.
  
     {At anchor}, anchored.
  
     {To back an anchor}, to increase the holding power by laying
        down a small anchor ahead of that by which the ship rides,
        with the cable fastened to the crown of the latter to
        prevent its coming home.
  
     {To cast anchor}, to drop or let go an anchor to keep a ship
        at rest.
  
     {To cat the anchor}, to hoist the anchor to the cathead and
        pass the ring-stopper.
  
     {To fish the anchor}, to hoist the flukes to their resting
        place (called the bill-boards), and pass the shank
        painter.
  
     {To weigh anchor}, to heave or raise the anchor so as to sail
        away.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Aweigh \A*weigh"\, adv. [Pref. a- + weigh.] (Naut.)
     Just drawn out of the ground, and hanging perpendicularly;
     atrip; -- said of the anchor. --Totten.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  aweigh
       adj 1: (used of an anchor) hanging clear of the bottom; "anchors
              aweigh"
       2: of an anchor; just clear of the bottom [syn: {atrip}]