killick
/ˈkɪlɪk
/noun
1A heavy stone used by small craft as an anchor.Lobsters were fished at that time using ‘set lines’ which were run straight out from shore and anchored at each end with a killick, a homemade anchor fashioned of rocks, sticks, and rope....
- On the right, a killick, or home-made anchor using a specially selected killick-stone wedged into a natural-grown tree fork.
1.1A small anchor.When we got round the horn my boys, we had some glorious days. And very soon our killick dropped in Valparaiso bay.
1.2British nautical slang A leading seaman.I seem to recall that one apprentice went ashore one Saturday afternoon with a killick he knew....
- I was the only Able Seaman on the course along with two killicks, two petty officers and four warrant officers.
So named because the leading seaman's badge bore the symbol of an anchor
Origin
Mid 17th century: of unknown origin.