Rowlock

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Rowlock \Row"lock\ (r[=o]"l[o^]k colloq. r[u^]l"[u^]k), n. [For
     oarlock; AS. [=a]rloc, where the second part is akin to G.
     loch a hole, E. lock a fastening. See {Oar}, and {Lock}.]
     1. (Naut.) A contrivance or arrangement serving as a fulcrum
        for an oar in rowing. It consists sometimes of a notch in
        the gunwale of a boat, sometimes of a pair of pins between


        which the oar rests on the edge of the gunwale, sometimes
        of a single pin passing through the oar, or of a metal
        fork or stirrup pivoted in the gunwale and suporting the
        oar; same as {oarlock}. [Chiefly Brit.]
        [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     2. One of the rings of masonry included in an arch having
        more than one ring.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  rowlock
       n : a holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the
           oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing [syn: {peg},
            {pin}, {thole}, {tholepin}, {oarlock}]