sea anchor

American  

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.

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sea anchor British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of sea anchor

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

It was a six-man orange life raft with a sea anchor inside and no visible marine growth or markings.

From Washington Times • Nov. 9, 2020

A sea anchor that reduces their speed to about 2 knots, too slow to escape a ship.

From Scientific American • Aug. 9, 2013

He made an all-important sea anchor out of a life jacket, paddles out of his own shoes.

From Time Magazine Archive

It swept around the sea anchor of the enemy flank and struck at his most vulnerable spot.

From Time Magazine Archive

Before noon on the ninth day, the sea anchor broke away, and the boat lurched heavily as seas hit her broadside.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong