v. Naut. [UN-2 4 b.]
1. trans. To free from moorings; spec. ‘to reduce (a ship) to the state of riding by a single anchor and cable’ (Falconer).
1497. Naval Acc. Henry VII. (1896), 229. The Remoovyng & Vnmoryng ye said Ship.
1681. Lond. Gaz., No. 1663/4. They lye Unmored, and ride single, and intend to Sail this Afternoon. Ibid. (1704), No. 3981/3. All the Ships … are unmoor’d, and will sail with the next Opportunity.
1725. Pope, Odyss., IV. 786. With sails we wing the masts,… Unmoor the fleet, and rush into the sea.
1800. Hull Pilotage Act, 14. The pilot … shall be paid for unmooring … such ship.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xxiv. They seated themselves in the boat and unmoored it from the pier.
1882. ‘Ouida,’ Maremma, I. 135. She found her boat safe, and unmoored it and rowed backward.
transf. 1866. Bright, Sp. (1876), 177. They would unmoor the island from its fastenings in the deep.
2. intr. To cast off moorings. (Cf. UNMOOR.)
1611. Cotgr., Demarer, to vnmoore; to loosen a ship thats moored,… and put out to sea.
1693. Lond. Gaz., No. 2935/4. Sir Francis Wheeler made the Signal for the Ships to Unmoore.
1745. P. Thomas, Jrnl. Anson’s Voy., 117. The next Morning we unmoor’d … and at Six weigh’d.
1778. J. Adams, Diary, 14 Feb. Wks. 1851, III. 95. At daybreak, orders were given to unmoor.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xvii. 46. She unmoored and warped down into the bight, from which she got under weigh.
1887. Bowen, Æneid, III. 639. Fly! and unmoor forth with from his coasts.
Hence Unmooring vbl. sb.
1497. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 252. The vnmoryng of the seid Ship in Portesmouth haven after her comyng owte of Scoteland.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4720/3. The Lancaster fired a Gun as a Signal for Unmooring.
1899. F. T. Bullen, Way Navy, 25. I had … been endeavouring to secure some snap-shots of the fo’castle during the evolution of unmooring.
