sheet-anchor

Sheet anchor — Sheet an chor [OE. scheten to shoot, AS. sce[ o]tan; cf. OE. shoot anchor. See {Shoot}, v. t.] 1. (Naut.) A large anchor stowed on shores outside the waist of a vessel; called also {waist anchor}. See the Note under {Anchor}. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

sheet anchor — n. [ME shute anker < ? schuten, to SHOOT + anker, ANCHOR: reason for name uncert.] 1. a large anchor used only in emergencies 2. a person or thing to be relied upon in danger …   English World dictionary

sheet anchor — noun spare anchor for use in emergency • Syn: ↑waist anchor • Hypernyms: ↑anchor, ↑ground tackle * * * ˈsheet anchor noun a person or thing that you can depend on in a difficult situation   …   Useful english dictionary

sheet anchor — /ˈʃit æŋkə/ (say sheet angkuh) noun 1. a large anchor used only in cases of emergency. 2. a final reliance or resource. {late Middle English shute anker; origin uncertain} …   Australian English dictionary

sheet anchor — noun Etymology: alteration of earlier shoot anchor, from Middle English shute anker Date: 1626 1. a large strong anchor formerly carried in the waist of a ship and used as a spare in an emergency 2. something that constitutes a main support or… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

sheet-anchor — n. 1. (Naut.) Principal anchor, largest anchor. 2. Mainstay, chief support, main reliance …   New dictionary of synonyms

sheet anchor — 1. Naut. a large anchor used only in cases of emergency. 2. a final reliance or resource, as when in danger. [1485 95] * * * …   Universalium

sheet anchor — noun a) a large, spare anchor used in an emergency b) a source of help in times of danger …   Wiktionary

sheet anchor — large anchor used in emergencies …   English contemporary dictionary

sheet anchor — noun 1》 an additional anchor for use in emergencies. 2》 a dependable person or thing relied upon in the last resort. Origin C15: perh. related to obs. shot, denoting two cables spliced together, later influenced by sheet2 …   English new terms dictionary

sheet anchor — noun (C) 1 a ship s largest anchor 1 (1), used only in times of danger 2 someone or something that you depend on very much in a difficult or dangerous situation …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English