A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1513-1590
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Anker, Ankir, v. Also: ankyr, ancker, anchour. [ME. ancre, anker, e.m.E. anchor (ankor).]
1. tr. To anchor (a vessel). Also fig., to fix firmly as by an anchor.1513 Doug. vii. ii. 8 (thar navy can thai ankyr fast). 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. vi. (Avising … couth find na port to ankir hir firmance). 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 232 (anker ȝow on haly Scripture). c1590 J. Stewart 3/19 (quhair vpon I … firmlie anckers my beild).
2. intr. To come to anchor; to cast anchor.1571 J. Maitland Satirical Poems xxvii. 24 (anker sikker quhair thow may be suire).
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"Anker v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/anker_v>
