sea anchor

noun

Nautical.

1. any of various devices, as a drogue, that have great resistance to being pulled through the water and are dropped forward of a vessel at the end of a cable to hold the bow into the wind or sea during a storm.

sea anchor

noun

1. nautical any device, such as a bucket or canvas funnel, dragged in the water to keep a vessel heading into the wind or reduce drifting

Word History and Origins

Origin of sea anchor¹

First recorded in 1760–70