sheet anchor

2 definitions found

sheet anchor - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Sheet anchor \Sheet" an"chor\ [OE. scheten to shoot, AS.
     sce['o]tan; cf. OE. shoot anchor. See Shoot, v. t.]
     1. (Naut.) A large anchor stowed on shores outside the waist
        of a vessel; -- called also waist anchor. See the Note
        under Anchor.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Anything regarded as a sure support or dependence in
        danger; the best hope or refuge.
        [1913 Webster]

sheet anchor - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  sheet anchor
      n 1: spare anchor for use in emergency [syn: sheet anchor,
           waist anchor]