Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of liquid measure: "anker" refers to an old unit of capacity used for measuring wine or spirits, equal to approximately 37.8625 litres. It was historically used in England, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Russia.
   • A container: "anker" also denotes a cask or barrel that holds this specific volume of liquid, typically wine or spirits.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The merchant sold wine by the anker, a standard measure in the 18th century. (A unit of liquid volume.)
  • He stored the imported rum in a wooden anker. (A cask of specific capacity.)

Advanced Usage

• "to measure by the anker": to use this unit for trade or storage.
  • The old records show that the port received ten ankers of brandy. (Ten units of the liquid measure.)

Variants and Related Words

• Anker (n): the unit itself; no common variants exist in modern English, as the term is archaic.

Synonyms

• Barrel: a general term for a cylindrical container, though not precisely equal to the anker.
• Cask: a large container for liquids, similar in function to an anker.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms or phrasal verbs are associated with "anker" due to its historical and technical nature. It is primarily used in historical or trade contexts.