: a usually U-shaped device for holding an oar in place
Examples of oarlock in a Sentence
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The oar swung violently in its oarlock, knocking him into the river and crumpling the raft’s aluminum frame.—
Emilee Coblentz,
Outside,
11 Feb. 2026 Our boat had oarlocks, but not oars.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
25 Jan. 2026 But see him now, his taut arms and tight fists gripping the oars, balanced in their oarlocks.—Washington Post,
15 Apr. 2020
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