Oar , v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Oared (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Oaring.]
To row. "Oared himself."
Shak.
Oared with laboring arms.
Pope.
Oar (?), n [AS. ār; akin to Icel. ār, Dan. aare, Sw.
åra; perh. akin to E. row,
v. Cf. Rowlock.]
1. An implement for impelling a boat, being
a slender piece of timber, usually ash or spruce, with a grip or handle at
one end and
a broad blade at the
other. The part which rests in the rowlock is called the loom.
&fist; An oar is a kind of long paddle, which swings about a kind
of fulcrum, called a rowlock, fixed to the
side of the
boat.
2. An oarsman; a
rower; as, he is a good oar.
3. (Zoöl.) An oarlike swimming organ of various invertebrates.
Oar cock (Zoöl), the water rail. [Prov. Eng.] --
Spoon oar, an oar having
the blade so curved as to afford a better hold upon the water in rowing. -- To boat the
oars, to cease rowing,
and lay the
oars in the boat. -- To feather the oars. See under Feather., v. t. -- To lie on the
oars, to cease pulling,
raising the oars out of water,
but not boating them; to cease from
work of any
kind; to be
idle; to rest. -- To muffle the oars, to put something round that part which rests in the rowlock, to prevent noise in rowing. -- To put in one's oar,
to give aid or advice; -- commonly used of a person who obtrudes aid or counsel not invited. -- To ship the oars, to place them
in the rowlocks. -- To toss the
oars, To peak the oars, to lift them from the rowlocks and hold them
perpendicularly, the
handle resting on the bottom
of the boat. - - To trail oars, to allow them to
trail in the water alongside of the boat. -- To unship the
oars, to take them out of the rowlocks.
Hear it pronounced