kedge

A small anchor used for warping a vessel.

...and throw them into the boat, which, as there are no wharves, we usually kept anchored by a small kedge, or keelek, just outside of the surf.

The chaps who had gone off in the cutter had been equally spry with their job, bending on a stout hemp hawser through the ring of the kedge anchor, which they dropped some half a cable's length from the brig, bringing back the other end aboard, where it was put round the capstan on the forecastle.

A glutton.

To warp (a vessel) by carrying out a kedge in a boat, dropping it overboard, and hauling the vessel up to it.

To move with the help of a kedge, as described above.

[…] there was a stretch of twelve miles of channel running in a north-easterly direction which the ship could not possibly negotiate under sail unless a change of wind should occur — of which there seemed to be absolutely no prospect. The only alternative, therefore, would be to kedge those twelve miles; truly a most formidable undertaking for four persons — one of them being a girl — to attempt.

By noon the men had loaded the cargo & Prophetess was kedging out of the bay against unfavourable winds.