An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Anker
Anker (1.), m., ‘anchor,’ from the equiv. MidHG. anker, late OHG. anchar, m.; corresponding to Du. anker, AS. (even at a very early period) oncor, E. anchor, OIc. akkere, ‘anchor.’ A loan-word early naturalised among the English, and before 1000 A. D. even among the MidEurop. Teutons and in the North. From Lat. ancora (comp. Ital. ancora, Fr. ancre, f.; allied also to Lith. inkaras, OSlov. anŭkura, ankura), in connection with which the different gender of the Teut. words is remarkable. In OHG. there exists a genuinely native word for ‘anchor’ — senchil, m., sinchila, f.
Anker (2.), m., ‘a liquid measure,’ ModHG. only, from Du. anker, which, like the equiv. E. anchor, points to MidLat. anceria, ancheria, ‘cupa minor’ (smaller cask); the origin of the cognates is obscure.