Page "Anchor" Paragraph 8

The term aweigh describes an anchor when it is hanging on the rode and is not resting on the bottom.

This is linked to the term to weigh anchor, meaning to lift the anchor from the sea bed, allowing the ship or boat to move.

An anchor is described as aweigh when it has been broken out of the bottom and is being hauled up to be stowed.

Aweigh should not be confused with under way, which describes a vessel which is not moored to a dock or anchored, whether or not the vessel is moving through the water.