Definition

Noun: 1. A peg or pin fixed to the gunwale (upper edge) of a boat: This pin serves as a fulcrum and point of support for an oar during rowing. It holds the oar in place, allowing the rower to apply force efficiently against the water.

Usage

• The primary and only standard usage of "tholepin" is as a nautical term for the component on a rowboat that secures the oar.
• It is a specific, technical term most commonly used by rowers, boat builders, and in historical or maritime contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The old wooden dinghy was equipped with simple tholepins instead of modern rowlocks.
  • He placed the oar against the tholepin and began to row steadily across the lake.
  • One of the tholepins had worn down from years of use, making the oar slip.

Advanced Usage

• "Thole": The word "tholepin" is often shortened informally to just "thole," which can refer to the pin itself. For example:
• In traditional boatbuilding, a pair of tholepins is sometimes used with a grommet (a rope ring) to hold the oar, rather than a pivoting rowlock.

Variants and Related Words

• Thole (noun): A synonym, often used interchangeably with "tholepin."
• Rowlock (noun, /ˈrɒlək/ or /ˈrʌlək/): A more modern, often U-shaped or circular pivot for an oar. While serving the same function, a rowlock is typically a different mechanical design than a simple peg or pin.
• Oarlock (noun): The American English term for "rowlock."
• Gunwale (noun, /ˈɡʌnəl/): The upper edge or rim of the side of a boat, to which the tholepin is attached.

Synonyms

• Peg
• Pin
• Oar pin
• Thole (when used as a noun)

Notes on Meaning

• "Tholepin" refers specifically to a simple, fixed peg. It is distinct from a rowlock or oarlock, which is often a swiveling or more complex fixture. However, in general conversation, the terms are sometimes used loosely to refer to any oar support.
• The word is considered somewhat archaic but is still precisely used within communities that build or use traditional wooden boats.

Noun

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