ship’s anchor

The traditional anchor is made up of a shank with a stock at one end and two arms ending in palms at the other end.

stock

Transverse rod perpendicular to the shank; it positions the anchor so that its two arms grip the bottom of the water.

shank

Long straight rod forming the body of the anchor.

bill

Tip of the palm.

palm

Flat pointed part at the end of the arm; it sinks into the bottom of the water to grip it.

fluke

Broad part of the palm.

ring

Heavy ring through the eye at the end of the shank; the anchor’s cable or rope is attached to it.

hoisting ring

Small ring at the anchor’s center of gravity; a rope is attached to it, which is pulled to dislodge the anchor from the bottom of the water.

gravity band

Anchor’s center of gravity.

throat

Point where the arms meet the shank.

crown

Point at the end of the shank.

arm

Shank that curves out from the bottom end of the main shank and ends in a palm.