I. ˈō(ə)r, ˈȯ(ə)r, ˈōə, ˈȯə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English oor, or, from Old English ār; akin to Old Norse ār oar
1.
a. : a long rather heavy wooden pole with a broad fairly flat blade at one end that is used for propelling and steering or stopping a boat and that is usually held in place in an oarlock at the side of a boat or sometimes at the stern (as of a gondola) so that the shorter usually narrower end can be readily grasped and manipulated by a rower in the boat in such a way that the blade can be dipped into and pulled against and raised from the water or otherwise manipulated so as to propel or steer or stop the boat
b. archaic : something (as an arm, the wing of a bird) used for propulsion through water or air and suggestive in its action of an oar
2.
a. archaic : rowboat — usually used in plural and often with pair
went into a pair of oars that was ready — Edward Hyde
b. or oars plural but singular in construction : oarsman
c. oars plural but singular or plural in construction : the position of holding a boat's oars horizontal and at right angles with the boat's sides and with the blade ends parallel with the water — often used as a command to prepare to row or to rest from rowing
3. : a stick or pole or paddle used for stirring something (as mash)
•
- lay on one's oars
- lie on one's oars
- put one's oar in
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to propel with or as if with oars : row
oared the boat forward
2. archaic : to manipulate (as one's arm) like an oar
intransitive verb
: to go along by or as if by using oars
oaring slowly over the water
a lazy troupe of rooks flapped over the sky, cawing as they oared along — Richard Church