Men that I knew around Wapatomac didn't wear high, shiny plug hats, nor yeller spring overcoats, nor carry canes with ivory heads as big as a catboat'sanchor, as you might say.
(nautical) Anirondevice so shaped as togrip the bottom and hold a vessel at her berth by the chain or rope attached. (FM 55-501).
Any instrument serving a purpose like that of a ship's anchor, such as an arrangement of timber to hold adam fast; a device to hold the end of abridgecable etc.; or a device used inmetalworking to hold thecore of amould in place.
2006,Planning: For the Natural and Built Environment, numbers1650-1666, page15:
Supermarkets have also had to adjust. Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda have put a much greater emphasis on developing smaller high street stores or becominganchors for mixed-used regeneration schemes[…]
2007, A. Sivakumar,Retail Marketing, page102:
However, mall developers offer huge discounts to department stores because theseanchors create traffic[…]
(figurative) That which gives stability or security.
(architecture) Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; part of the ornaments of certain mouldings. It is seen in theechinus, or egg-and-anchor (called also egg-and-dart, egg-and-tongue) ornament.
Nor earth to me give food, nor heaven light, / Sport and repose lock from me day and night, / To desperation turn my trust and hope, / Ananchor's cheer in prison be my scope.
1967, Terry Carr,New Worlds of Fantasy, Ace Books, page56:
I saw Tim look back through the rear window of the cab and prayed he wouldn't do the first thing that came into his mind and step on theanchors.
2005, urban legend,The Wordsworth Book of Urban Legend, Wordsworth Editions, page 150:
[Police:] ‘… when we blow the horn, you do an emergency stop.’ So thefoaf did as he was bid and, hearing an almighty horn blast stepped on theanchors. There was a most tremendous crash as the Police car ran into the back of his Austin.
2008, Gavin Haines, “Wheels on fire”, inBournemouth Daily Echo:
“Brake, brake, brake! You need to scrub off more speed before you enter the corner,” he explained, as I took his advice and jumped on theanchors.
(soccer) Adefensive player, especially one who counters the opposition's best offensive player.
2021 March 31, Phil McNulty, “England 2-1 Poland: What shape are Gareth Southgate's side in?”, inBBC Sport[2]:
Phil Foden once again demonstrated his pedigree and will push for a start, whileLeeds United'sKalvin Phillips will hope he has done enough to get a chance as a defensive midfieldanchor ifLiverpool captainJordan Henderson fails to recover full fitness after groin surgery.
Formerly a vessel would differentiate amongst the anchors carried aswaist anchor,best bower,bower,stream andkedge anchors, depending on purpose and, to a great extent, on mass and size of the anchor. Modern usage isstorm anchor for the heaviest anchor with the longest rode,best bower or simplybower for the most commonly used anchor deployed from thebow, andstream orlunch hook for a small, light anchor used for temporary moorage and often deployed from thestern.
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions atWiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
To bestuck; to be unable to move away from a position.
2017 March 14, Stuart James, “Leicester stun Sevilla to reach last eight after Kasper Schmeichel save”, inthe Guardian[3]:
It is an incredible tale and one that makes no sense on so many levels. Only two years ago Leicester wereanchored to the foot of the Premier League and staring at the prospect of relegation to the Championship under Nigel Pearson.
