atrip

American

[uh-trip] / əˈtrɪp /

adjective

Nautical.

aweigh.
(of a sail) in position and ready for trimming.
(of a yard) hoisted and ready to be fastened in position.
(of an upper mast) unfastened and ready for lowering.

atrip British

/ əˈtrɪp /

adjective

(postpositive) nautical (of an anchor) no longer caught on the bottom; tripped; aweigh

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of atrip

First recorded in 1620–30; a- ¹ + trip ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Her anchor was atrip, that is, the cable was hove short, showing that she was ready to sail at a moment's notice.

From Equatorial America Descriptive of a Visit to St. Thomas, Martinique, Barbadoes, and the Principal Capitals of South America by Ballou, Maturin Murray

Just drawn out of the ground, and hanging perpendicularly; atrip; Ð said of the anchor.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

The captain's anchor is pretty nigh atrip; I shouldn't wonder if he croaked afore morning.

From Omoo by Melville, Herman

As soon as the anchor was atrip, I rang the bell to go ahead.

From Down South or, Yacht Adventure in Florida by Optic, Oliver

He then repaired on deck, and took the helm, the anchor of the brig being atrip.

From Newton Forster by Marryat, Frederick

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023