Oarlocks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A fitting mounted on a boat to hold oars securely, allowing the crew to row effectively while providing stability and control over the vessel's direction
2. An apparatus fixed to the side of a boat that secures oars, enabling rowers to exert power efficiently and steer the boat accurately
3. A device attached to a boat's side designed to hold an oar in place, facilitating rowing by allowing the oar to pivot smoothly

Etymology: "Oarlocks" is the plural of "oarlock", a compound of "oar" and "lock". The "oar" part is an ancient Germanic word for the paddle that propels a boat, and the "lock" part is the ordinary word for a fastening, so the pairing is literal: a device that locks the oar in place. The sense of "lock" here is closer to a hitch or a fixed point than to a key-and-bolt mechanism, which is why the word fits an oar resting against a pin or notch on a boat's side. The plural form simply reflects that rowing boats carry a pair of these fittings, one for each oar, so the word is most often used in the plural.

Synonyms: rowlocks