acockbill

English
Man-of-war with yards a-cockbill

Etymology

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

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.

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

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
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