Rowlock

Rowlock
A rowlock on a rowing boat
A rowlock used for the sport of rowing

A rowlock (UK play /ˈrɒlək/) or oarlock (US) is a brace[disambiguation needed ] that attaches an oar to a boat. When a boat is rowed, the rowlock acts as a fulcrum, and, in doing so, the propulsive force that the rower exerts on the water with the oar is transferred to the boat by the thrust force exerted on the rowlock.

On ordinary rowing craft, the rowlocks are attached to the gunwales. In the sport of rowing, the rowlocks are attached to outriggers (often just called "riggers"), which project from the boat and provide greater leverage. In sport rowing, the rowlocks are normally U-shaped and attached to a vertical pin which allows the rowlock to pivot around the pin during the rowing stroke. They additionally have a locking mechanism across the top of the "U" to prevent the oar from unintentionally popping out of the rowlock.

Originally rowlocks were two wooden posts that the shaft of the oar nestled between.

Trivia

The Norwegian municipalities of Fosnes, Radøy and Tjøme have rowlocks in their coats-of-arms.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Rowlock — Row lock (? colloq. ?), n. [For oarlock; AS. [hand]rloc, where the second part is skin 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rowlock — meaning ‘a device on a boat for holding an oar’, is pronounced rol ǝk. The equivalent term in North America is oarlock …   Modern English usage

  • rowlock — [räl′ək, rul′ək; rō′läk΄] n. [altered (infl. by ROW2) < earlier OARLOCK] chiefly Brit. term for OARLOCK …   English World dictionary

  • rowlock — UK [ˈrəʊˌlɒk] / US [ˈroʊˌlɑk] noun [countable, usually plural] Word forms rowlock : singular rowlock plural rowlocks British a U shaped piece of metal fitted on the side of a boat to hold an oar in position …   English dictionary

  • rowlock — noun Etymology: probably by alteration Date: circa 1750 chiefly British oarlock …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rowlock — /roh lok /; for 3 also Naut. /rol euhk, rul /, n. 1. Archit. one of several concentric rings of masonry forming an arch. 2. a brick laid on edge, esp. as a header. Cf. soldier (def. 7). 3. Chiefly Brit. oarlock. Also, rollock (for defs. 1, 2).… …   Universalium

  • rowlock — noun (mostly British) a pivot attached to the gunwale (outrigger in a sport boat) of a boat that supports and guides an oar, and provides a fulcrum for rowing; an oarlock (mostly US). I took a good gap and a stretch, and …   Wiktionary

  • rowlock — row|lock [ˈrɔlək US ˈroula:k] n BrE [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: row + O lock% (as in oarlock)] one of the U shaped pieces of metal that holds the ↑oars of a rowing boat …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • rowlock — contrivance serving as a fulcrum for an oar Nautical Terms …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • rowlock — [[t]rɒ̱lək, ro͟ʊlɒk[/t]] rowlocks N COUNT: usu pl The rowlocks on a rowing boat are the U shaped pieces of metal that keep the oars in position while you move them backwards and forwards. [BRIT] (in AM, use oarlock) …   English dictionary

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