acockbill

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English[edit]

Man-of-war with yards a-cockbill

Etymology[edit]

acock (In a cocked or turned-up fashion, adverb) +‎ bill (the point of or beyond the fluke, noun)[1]

Adverb[edit]

acockbill (not comparable)

  1. (nautical) Hanging at the cathead, ready to let go, as an anchor.
  2. (nautical) Topped up; having one yardarm higher than the other.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Simpson & Weiner, (1989), p. 412

Further reading[edit]

  • Simpson, J. A. & Weiner, E. S. C., editors (1933), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, volume III, Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press (Oxford University Press), published 1989, →ISBN, page 412