: a usually U-shaped device for holding an oar in place
Examples of oarlock in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebBut see him now, his taut arms and tight fists gripping the oars, balanced in their oarlocks.—Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2020 All of this made the sweet relief of arriving, often after dark, even more memorable: the cool, fragrant air; the stars; falling asleep to the lake water lapping and oarlocks knocking.—Suzanne Carmick, New York Times, 6 June 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oarlock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of oarlock was
before the 12th century
Share