'To back an anchor' definitions:

Definition of 'To back an anchor'

From: GCIDE
  • Back \Back\ (b[a^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Backed (b[a^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. Backing.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. To get upon the back of; to mount. [1913 Webster]
  • I will back him [a horse] straight. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed, Appeared to me. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to back oxen. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of. [1913 Webster]
  • A garden . . . with a vineyard backed. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The chalk cliffs which back the beach. --Huxley. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as, to back a note or legal document. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or influence; as, to back a friend. "The Parliament would be backed by the people." --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
  • Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with rewards and punishments. --South. [1913 Webster]
  • The mate backed the captain manfully. --Blackw. Mag. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse. [1913 Webster]
  • To back an anchor (Naut.), to lay down a small anchor ahead of a large one, the cable of the small one being fastened to the crown of the large one.
  • To back the field, in horse racing, to bet against a particular horse or horses, that some one of all the other horses, collectively designated "the field", will win.
  • To back the oars, to row backward with the oars.
  • To back a rope, to put on a preventer.
  • To back the sails, to arrange them so as to cause the ship to move astern.
  • To back up, to support; to sustain; as, to back up one's friends.
  • To back a warrant (Law), is for a justice of the peace, in the county where the warrant is to be executed, to sign or indorse a warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender.
  • To back water (Naut.), to reverse the action of the oars, paddles, or propeller, so as to force the boat or ship backward. [1913 Webster]