Definition

1. Noun:
   • A device on a boat: A rowlock is a U-shaped or circular holder attached to the gunwale (the upper edge of the side of a boat). Its primary function is to hold an oar in place and act as a fulcrum (a fixed point on which a lever turns) for rowing.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The rowlock broke, making it difficult to row the boat effectively.
  • Ensure the oar is securely placed in the rowlock before you start rowing.
  • Traditional wooden boats often have simple wooden rowlocks.

Advanced Usage

• "To ship the oars": This phrase involves lifting the oars from the rowlocks and placing them inside the boat.
  • After reaching the shore, the rower shipped the oars.

Variants and Related Words

• Oarlock: (noun) This is the common American English term for a rowlock. The two words are synonyms.
  • In the US, you are more likely to hear the term "oarlock".

Synonyms

• Oarlock: A holder for an oar on a boat.
• Thole pin: A pin, often one of a pair, serving as a fulcrum for an oar in a small boat. (Note: A thole pin is a specific, often simpler, type of rowlock.)

Related Phrases

• "Out of the rowlock": Describes an oar that has come loose from its holder.
  • A sudden wave knocked the oar out of the rowlock.

Noun

1. a holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing