rowlock

8.8

A small holder fixed to a boat side that keeps an oar in place while you row

noun
/ˈroʊlɒk/

Specialized

: gato de remo

The rower adjusted the angle of the oar in the rowlock to maximize his stroke efficiency.
oar from its rowlock

Examples

See that they hardly pull through the water at all, while his pull on the sculls pushes the rowlocks forward, and with them the shell.

Academic text (1997)
As he pulled the oar out of the rowlock, the boat started to drift to the left.
She carefully placed the oar back into the rowlock to stabilize the boat while they took a break.

Synonyms

vsrowlock

153 1.0

A small metal or plastic object used to attach things to cloth

is the boat side device specifically for holding an oar and pivoting it

oarlock

vsrowlock

1 7.0

A part on the side of a boat that holds an oar so it can move when you row

is the same device often called by a different common name

thole

vsrowlock

1 9.9

A peg on the side of a boat that holds an oar and lets it turn when rowing

is the general side device term rather than specifically a pin

peg

vsrowlock

1 8.2

A holder on a boat that keeps an oar in place while rowing

is the general device term not limited to a simple wooden holder

tholepin

vsrowlock

9.9

A pin in the side of a boat that holds an oar while you row

is a broader side device term not restricted to a simple pin

Compounds

rowlock arch

Specialized

9.9

An arch made of two or more rings of wedge-shaped stones

Surface Forms

rowlock singular

rowlocks plural

Morphology

rowlock = row + lock (transparent) = row + lock

The meaning is directly the compound of 'row' (relating to rowing) and 'lock' (a device that holds), so learners can infer it as a device that holds an oar.

Etymology

Rowlock is simply row + lock, where lock means 'to fasten' or 'keep in place', like a door lock holding something shut. So a rowlock is the small holder on the side of a boat that 'locks' the oar and lets it turn while you row.