In nautical use, describing an anchor that has been lifted from the bottom of the sea so the ship can move.
From a- (in the state of) + weigh (Old English wegan, 'to weigh, lift'). The term developed in maritime English to describe the moment when an anchor leaves the seafloor.
When sailors say 'anchors aweigh,' they're using a word that connects weighing and lifting—the anchor must be 'weighed' (lifted) before the ship can sail, a double meaning frozen in time.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.