Oar

(ōr), n. [A-S. & Icel. ár, Dan. aare, Sw. ära, perhaps from L. Ger. aren, Goth. arjan, A-S. erian, to plow; Norm. Fr. ower.] An instrument for rowing boats, being a piece of light timber round or square at one end, which is the handle, and broad and flat at the other, which is the blade. The part within the row-lock is called the loom.

To boat the oars (Naut.), to cease rowing, and lay the oars in the boat.—To feather the oars, to turn them, as they move back through the air after the stroke, so that the blades lie horizontally, with the top edges aft, and move edgewise, so as to make the least possible resistance.—To lie on the oars, to cease pulling, raising them out of water, but not boating them; hence, 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 row-lock, to prevent noise in rowing.—To ship the oars, to place them in the row-locks.—To toss the oars, to throw the blades and hold them perpendicularly, the handle resting on the bottom of the boat.—To unship the oars, to take them out of the row-locks. Totten.

v. t. To impel by rowing. Shak.