anchor (and chain), n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

anchor (and chain) n.

also anchor body

[derog. stereotype of a wife as the restraint on male freedoms]

(US) one’s wife.

1942		Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Sl. §446.15: wife, Anchor, ball-and, ball-and-chain.
1946		in DARE.
1975		L. Dills CB Slanguage 2: Anchor bodies: wife and children.