Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
ANCH'OR. Acts 27:29. The anchor was formerly cast from the stern of the ship. In the passage cited reference may be had to an anchor with four flukes or arms, such as are sometimes used by boats in shallow water; or it may mean four distinct separate anchors. The above represents a common anchor with two flukes or arms. There is a strong shank c, at one end of which are two arms b b, terminating in flukes a a. At the other end of the shank is the
stock d, supplied with a ring to which a cable can be attached. The stock is designed to give such a direction to the falling anchor that one of the flukes shall enter itself firmly at the bottom. See Ship.