| 释义 |
sheet-anchor|ˈʃiːtˌæŋkə(r)|
Forms: α. 5 shut(t)e, 6 shut, showte, shoute, shote, 6–7 shoot(e, shot, 7 shott. β. 7 sheath, shed, 7 sheate, 7–8 sheat, 9– sheet.
[Origin uncertain.
Perhaps f. ME. shote, shot n.2 = cable of two ropes spliced together, but the difference of form (shott and shute) in quot. 1497 makes this doubtful. The α-forms are parallel with those of shoot n.2, and the substitution of forms of the synonymous sheet n.2 in the 17th c. points to association with that word, but the connexion in sense is not obvious.
With regard to the generally accepted derivation from shoot v. (‘an anchor that is shot out’), the formation would be abnormal, it is not supported by the majority of the α-forms, nor is it clear why any anchor in particular should be so designated.]
A large anchor, formerly always the largest of a ship's anchors, used only in an emergency.
α1495Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 192 Ankers called Shutte. 1497Ibid. 184 For a Newe Shott of Cables..to the use of the seid Ship for the Shute ankers. 1514in Oppenheim Admin. Royal Navy (1896) I. 378 Ankers called..Shot ankers j, Caggers j. 1536Rem. Sedition iij, He castethe the shote anker, when he wyll, and not when they bydde hym, that are in his shyp. 1586J. Davis in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 786 The cable of our shut anker brake. 1633T. James Voy. 38 Our shoote-Anker was downe.
β1626Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 16 The greatest in euery ship is called the sheat Anchor. a1647Pette in Archæologia XII. 275 We broke our best bower, and were forced to let go our sheet anchor. 1690C. Nesse Hist. & Myst. O. & N. Test. I. 292 His shed-anchor to hold fast his floating ship. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. 10 Our Master order'd out the Sheet Anchor. 1775Phil. Trans. LXVIII. 404 At 4 a.m. found ship drove, veered to a whole cable;..and got sheet anchor overside. 1867Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. s.v., To a sheet anchor a stout hempen cable is generally bent. 1889Daily News 6 Aug. 5/7 The Howe..went gradually to leeward until she brought herself up with her sheet anchor.
b. fig. That on which one places one's reliance when everything else has failed.
α1524St. Papers Hen. VIII (1836) IV. 228 The next Parlament, which in maner shalbe the shoote anker for thexpedicion of our purpoos. 1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 498/1 Ye shall se what aunswere he maketh, & what he bringeth for the shote ancre of al his shifte. a1553Udall Royster D. i. i. (Arb.) 11 Of all men he is my chiefe banker Both for meate and money, and my chiefe shoot⁓anker. 1562Turner Of Bathes 15 Then shall it be high tyme to go to the bathes as to the shot ancre. 1616A. Champney Voc. Bps. 252 M. Mason cometh now to cast his shott anker, and saith. a1641Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 62 Wherein yet Christ is the Shoot-anker of salvation.
β1658W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. verse 14. xviii. §2 Casting out his sheat anchour [ed. 1669 sheath-anchor] of hope. 1676Molloy De Jure Marit. iii. vii. (1688) 416 It is Foreign Trade that is the main Sheet-Anchor of us Islanders. 1775F. Burney Early Diary 8 May, The great sheet⁓anchor, upon which we are to depend in our voyage through life. 1838Lytton Alice v. ii, The landed interest..is the great stay of this country—the sheet-anchor I may say. 1870M. Bridgman Robt. Lynne II. iv. 88 Bertie was..the sheet-anchor of her life. 1899Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 821 Bleeding is our ‘sheet anchor’ in this disease.
attrib.1861Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. xxxv, As soon as he had his old sheet-anchor friend to hold on to. |