Definition of "holding-ground" [holding-ground]

• Nautical, anchoring-ground; especially, good anchoring-ground, where the anchors will not drag. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "All rushed to holding-ground, and held, while the whale broke more timbers and the Mary Turner rolled sluggishly down and back again."
• "The anchors are of grapnel shape, and the larger junks have from six to eight arranged on the fore-end, giving one an idea of bad holding-ground along the coast."
• "At half past twelve the anchor was weighed, having been loosed from its holding-ground with some difficulty."