ankkuri

Ankkuri is the Finnish word for anchor, a device used to secure a vessel or floating installation to the seabed and prevent drifting due to wind, current, or waves. In maritime practice, ankkuri design and placement depend on seabed conditions and vessel size. Common patterns include stockless anchors, Admiralty-pattern anchors, and grapnels. The anchor is deployed with chain or rope, and retrieved using winches or capstans. Proper setting, scope, and maintenance are essential to ensure holding power and to prevent dragging.

In addition to nautical use, the term occurs in engineering and construction contexts where anchors secure structures, equipment, or systems to solid substrates. This broader sense covers temporary or permanent anchoring solutions used in geotechnical projects, installations, and safety systems.

Metaphorically, ankkuri is used in Finnish to denote a stabilizing influence or fixed point in a changing situation, as in phrases like "to serve as an anchor." The term also appears in brand names and technical literature within the maritime sector.

Etymology: the Finnish word is borrowed from Swedish ankare (anchor), which in turn has cognates in other Nordic languages. The word’s lineage reflects maritime heritage and cross-Baltic linguistic influence on nautical terminology.