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("kr), 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. 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. 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 ancho An"chor (), v. t.[imp. & p. p.Anchored (); p. pr. & vb. n.Anchoring.] [Cf. F. ancrer.] 1. To place at anchor; to secure by an anchor; as, to anchor a ship. 2. To fix or fasten; to fix in a stable condition; as, to anchor the cables of a suspension bridge. Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes. Shak. An"chor v. i. 1. To cast anchor; to come to anchor; as, our ship (or the captain) anchored in the stream. 2. To stop; to fix or rest. My invention . . . anchors on Isabel. Shak. An"chor n.[OE. anker, ancre, AS. ancra, fr. L. anachoreta. See Anchoret.] An anchoret. [Obs.] Shak. スポンサード リンク
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