I'm curious about the song, "Drunken Sailor".
The refrain of the song is listed as
Weigh heigh and up she rises (/Hoo-ray and up she rises)
Weigh heigh and up she rises (/Patent blocks of different sizes)
Weigh heigh and up she rises
Early in the morning
What does the line "Patent blocks of different sizes" mean? Is the pronunciation of the word patent the same is it is for invention patents?
Does "Weight heigh and up she rises" refer to the anchor?
"Weigh heigh and up she rises" does refer to the anchor; "weigh" or "weigh anchor" means to get underway and is still used today (at least in the US Navy). "Heigh" is an encouraging exclamation.
A block, in sailing, is a pulley. This would be what you're locking for, patent processes for making blocks. I am not a sailor, but I know the word patent is commonly used in nautical contexts, and I understand that it is used the common way (I am not absolutely certain). 'Blocks of different sizes' are the numerous pulleys used on sail ships for different purposes.