Wiktionary
vb. (context nautical English) to raise the anchor from the seabed prior to getting under way
WordNet
v. heave up an anchor in preparation for sailing [syn: weigh the anchor]
Wikipedia
Weigh anchor is a nautical term indicating the final preparation of a sea vessel for getting underway.
Weighing anchor literally means raising the anchor of the vessel from the sea floor and hoisting it up to be stowed on board the vessel. At the moment when the anchor is no longer touching the sea floor, it is aweigh.
Usage examples of "weigh anchor".
The frigate, the Imogene, is there, sir, in the Benuas, and from what I saw, about ready to weigh anchor.
Clinton Codrington had almost resigned himself to give the order to weigh anchor.
He was reflecting upon the delightful possibilities - the West African eagle-owl, the blue plantain-eater, the many brilliant weavers and sun-birds, conceivably even the potto, when he heard the cry 'All hands to weigh anchor,' an expected order that was instantly followed by the bosun's call and the powerful voices of his mates roaring 'All hands to weigh anchor' down the hatchways, and he hurried off to be out of the way: well did he know the frightful eagerness and activity set off by this corninand - the swarms of men racing across the deck regardless of those who might be in their path, the cries, the stretching forth of ropes.
But they did not weigh anchor until some two hours after midnight.
Even then, there will be matters to deal with before we weigh anchor.
Then he dragged himself cautiously to the top of a rock, from which he had a full view of the sea, and thence he saw the tartan complete her preparations for sailing, weigh anchor, and, balancing herself as gracefully as a water-fowl ere it takes to the wing, set sail.
Raines had told him that the Porpoise would likely weigh anchor with the evening tide, two hours from now.