Aweigh refers to a specific condition in maritime jargon which describes the scenario when an anchor has been lifted clear from the seabed or floor of the water body. The anchor, at this point, is suspended in the water, no longer touching or embedded in the bottom, and is ready to be fully retrieved aboard the vessel. This term is often used when a ship is about to set sail, indicating that the anchor is no longer securing the ship in place and it is free to move. "Anchor's aweigh" is a phrase regularly used to denote this state.
Example
1. The captain carefully watched the crew raise the anchor until it was aweigh, ready for their journey to the open sea.
2. "We cannot set sail until the anchor is aweigh," the old sailor told the novice, instructing him on his duties.
3. The ship's departure was delayed as the heavy anchor took longer than expected to become aweigh.
4. Once the anchor was aweigh, the crew could feel the ship start to drift with the tide, signaling the start of their ocean voyage.
5. "Anchor's aweigh!" the first mate hollered, and the crew cheered, knowing they were finally leaving the harbor behind.
Interesting fact
Aweigh is a naval term that describes the condition when an anchor is just clear of the bottom during the process of being lifted up onto a ship. It comes from the Old English term 'aweigh', meaning 'lifted'. This moment is of important significance as it denotes the commencement of a vessel's journey. It's even referenced in the popular naval song "Anchors Aweigh," which is traditionally sung in the U.S. Navy to signify the start of a sail, as it indicates the ship is no longer stationary and is now ready for its voyage.