acockbill

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English

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Man-of-war with yards a-cockbill

Etymology

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acock (In a cocked or turned-up fashion, adverb) +‎ bill (the point of or beyond the fluke, noun)[1]

Adverb

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acockbill (not comparable)

  1. (nautical) Hanging at the cathead, ready to let go, as an anchor.
  2. (nautical) Topped up; having one yardarm higher than the other.

References

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  1. ^ Simpson & Weiner, (1989), p. 412

Further reading

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  • Simpson, J. A. & Weiner, E. S. C., editors (1933), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, volume III, Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press (Oxford University Press), published 1989, →ISBN, page 412