[ANCHOR sb.1 + STOCK.] A bar that crosses the top of an anchor, at right angles to the shank, and also to the plane of the arms, the use of which is to cause one or other arm to strike the ground.
1825. H. Gascoigne, Nav. Fame. An anchor-stock in ready halves they find, To fit the rudder head now well inclin’d.
b. Comb. anchor-stock fashion, the position of two planks, etc., placed like the stock and shank of an anchor. Hence also anchor-stock v.
c. 1850. Rudim. Nav. (Weale), To anchor-stock, To work planks in a manner resembling the stocks of anchors, by fashioning them in a tapering form from the middle, and working or fixing them over each other, so that the broad or middle part of one plank shall be immediately above or below the butts or ends of two others. This method … is … used where particular strength is required, as in the spirketings under ports.
