Representation of the nautical tool, used as a heraldiccharge.
Any instrument serving a purpose like that of a ship's anchor, such as an arrangement of timber to hold a dam fast; a device to hold the end of a bridgecable etc.; or a device used in metalworking to hold the core of a mould in place.
Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; part of the ornaments of certain mouldings. It is seen in the echinus, or egg-and-anchor (called also egg-and-dart, egg-and-tongue) ornament.
From Middle English anker, from Old English ancor, ancra, from Latin ancora, from (or cognate with) Ancient Greek ἄγκυρα. The modern spelling is a sixteenth-century modification to better represent the Latin spelling anchora, a variant of the older Latin spelling ancora.
From Middle English anchoren, ankeren, either from the noun or perhaps (via Old French ancrer) from a Medieval Latin verb ancorare, from the same Latin word ancora.
Alternative forms.
Modern English dictionary
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