killickn.
/ˈkɪlɪk/, U.S. /ˈkɪlɪk/ Nautical.
a. A heavy stone used on small vessels as a substitute for an anchor; also a small anchor. †to come to a killick: to come to anchor (obsolete). up killick: to weigh anchor.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor [verb (intransitive)] > anchor
anchor?c1225
to come to (an) anchor?1473
to let go1530
to moor anchor1578
moor1627
to come to a killick1630
to drop anchor1634
to let fall1638
to let down1662
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > anchoring equipment > [noun] > anchor > a stone used as an anchor
killick1630
anchoring stone1838
sling-stone1865
society > travel > travel by water > berthing, mooring, or anchoring > berth, moor, or anchor [verb (intransitive)] > anchor > weigh anchor
to weigh anchor?a1400
to loose the anchor?c1450
disanchor1477
weigh1513
loose1526
to loose one's bark1567
up killick1837–40
up-anchor1889
1630 J. Winthrop Hist. New Eng. (1825) (modernized text) I. 40 The wind overblew so much at N.W. as they were forced to come to a killock at twenty fathom.
1637 T. Morton New Eng. Canaan iii. vii. 118 The inconstant windes shiftinge at night did force the kellecke home, and billedge the boat.
1643 R. Williams Key into Lang. Amer. 111 Kunnosnep, a Killick, or Anchor.
1670 J. Narborough Jrnl. in Acct. Several Late Voy. (1711) i. 107 Instead of Anchors, they have modern Crab-claws, or Kellocks.
1759 Ann. Reg. 1758 292/1 They sent out another float, with killicks and ropes.
1768 J. Byron Narr. Patagonia 82 We hove up our..kellick, which we had made to serve in the room of our grapnel.
1837–40 T. C. Haliburton Clockmaker (1862) viii. 29 I shall up killoch and off to-morrow to the Tree mont.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xiv. 32 We usually keep anchored by a small kedge, or keeleg.
1883 Times 18 May 7 With some bits of wood and a large stone..[is] fashioned a very good kedge or killick.
1897 R. Kipling Captains Courageous 63 Dad says next one [anchor] he loses..he'll give him the kelleg.
b. A leading seaman's badge, bearing the symbol of an anchor; hence, a leading seaman. Also attributive or as adj. , leading, chief. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > administration and ceremonial > [noun] > naval insignia
swab1793
weekly accounts1805
watch mark1860
killick1915
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > seafaring warrior or naval man > [noun] > ordinary seaman > leading seaman
leading seaman1884
killick1915
1915 ‘Bartimeus’ Tall Ship iii. 62 He paid for the misplaced generosity of his well-wisher with his ‘Killick’. [Note] Anchor. The distinctive badge of a leading rating.
1916 Chambers's Jrnl. May 302/2 ‘Dipping the killick’ means that the badge is removed, and that its wearer has been disrated to A. B. Note, A ‘killick’ is an anchor, which is the badge worn by a leading seaman.
1920 ‘Bartimeus’ Unreality ii. iii. 115 Picked up my killick.
1920 ‘Bartimeus’ Unreality ii. iv. 126 The sight-setter raised his brows at the red worsted anchor adorning Bill's sleeve. ‘Killick, eh!’ he ejaculated.
1925 E. Fraser & J. Gibbons Soldier & Sailor Words 135 Killick.., the lower deck term for the Petty Officers' Anchor arm badge.
1930 G. Wells Naval Customs 91 Killick,..a slang term for a ‘leading seaman’.
1945 ‘Tackline’ Holiday Sailor xiv. 143 Been in barracks for a matter of six months. Killick then, o' course.
1949 E. Partridge Dict. Slang (ed. 3) Add. 1092/2 Killick-scribe, a Leading Writer.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1901; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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