What is "to heave a ship to"

Heave \Heave\ (h[=e]v), v. t. [imp. Heaved (h[=e]vd), or Hove (h[=o]v); p. p. Heaved, Hove, formerly Hoven (h[=o]"v'n); p. pr. & vb. n. Heaving.] [OE. heven, hebben, AS. hebban; akin to OS. hebbian, D. heffen, OHG. heffan, hevan, G. heben, Icel. hefja, Sw. h[aum]fva, Dan. h[ae]ve, Goth. hafjan, L. capere to take, seize; cf. Gr. kw`ph handle. Cf. Accept, Behoof, Capacious, Forceps, Haft, Receipt.]

1. To cause to move upward or onward by a lifting effort; to lift; to raise; to hoist; -- often with up; as, the wave heaved the boat on land.

   One heaved ahigh, to be hurled down below.
   --Shak.

   Note: Heave, as now used, implies that the thing raised is heavy or hard to move; but formerly it was used in a less restricted sense.

   Here a little child I stand, Heaving up my either hand.
   --Herrick.

2. To throw; to cast; -- obsolete, provincial, or colloquial, except in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the lead; to heave the log.

3. To force from, or into, any position; to cause to move; also, to throw off; -- mostly used in certain nautical phrases; as, to heave the ship ahead.

4. To raise or force from the breast; to utter with effort; as, to heave a sigh.

   The wretched animal heaved forth such groans.
   --Shak.

5. To cause to swell or rise, as the breast or bosom.

   The glittering, finny swarms That heave our friths, and crowd upon our shores.
   --Thomson.

   To heave a cable short (Naut.), to haul in cable till the ship is almost perpendicularly above the anchor.

   To heave a ship ahead (Naut.), to warp her ahead when not under sail, as by means of cables.

   To heave a ship down (Naut.), to throw or lay her down on one side; to careen her.

   To heave a ship to (Naut.), to bring the ship's head to the wind, and stop her motion.

   To heave about (Naut.), to put about suddenly.

   To heave in (Naut.), to shorten (cable).

   To heave in stays (Naut.), to put a vessel on the other tack.

   To heave out a sail (Naut.), to unfurl it.

   To heave taut (Naut.), to turn a capstan, etc., till the rope becomes strained. See Taut, and Tight.

   To heave the lead (Naut.), to take soundings with lead and line.

   To heave the log. (Naut.) See Log.

   To heave up anchor (Naut.), to raise it from the bottom of the sea or elsewhere.