The action of hoisting a ship's anchor clear of the bottom. The moment the anchor breaks free from the mud and the ship's weight is no longer tethered, the vessel is officially considered underway. The process requires coordination between the bridge and the foredeck crew operating the windlass.
Heard on the job
Start the windlass and weigh anchor, the pilot wants us moving in ten minutes.
Insider tip
The common phrase underway is often confused with under weigh due to this term, but a ship is only weighing while actively lifting the anchor.