Sheet'-ănch'or, n.

noun

n. [O. Eng. shoot-anchor.]

  1. (Naut.) The largest anchor of a ship, which, in stress of weather, is sometimes the seaman’s last refuge to prevent the ship from going ashore.
  2. Hence, the chief support; the last refuge for safety.
An engraving of a sheet anchor lying on a deck beside a barrel and other shipboard equipment.
Sheet-anchor.