anchor O.E. ancor, borrowed 9c. from L. ancora, from or cognate with Gk. ankyra "anchor, hook" (see ankle). A very early borrowing and said to be the only L. nautical term used in the Gmc. languages. The -ch- spelling emerged late 16c., in imitation of a misspelling of the L. word. The fig. sense of "that which gives stability or security" is from late 14c. Meaning "host or presenter of a TV or radio program" is from 1965, short for anchorman (1958), which earlier meant "the last man of a tug-of-war team" (1909) and "the one who runs last in a relay race" (1934). The verb is first attested early ...13c."Anchors are of various sizes. The largest is the SHEET-anchor; next in size are the BOWER-anchors, hung in the bows of ships; the smallest is the KEDGE-anchor." [OED]

EXPAND