acockbill

English

Man-of-war with yards a-cockbill

Etymology

From acock (“In a cocked or turned-up fashion”, adverb) +‎ bill (“the point of or beyond the fluke”, noun).

Adverb

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.

Further reading

• 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