Emily Dickinson Lexicon

OAR, n. [Sax. ar; Sw. åra; Norm. ower.]

An instrument for rowing boats, being a piece of timber round or square at one end, and flat at the other. The round end is the handle, and the flat end the blade. To boat the oars, in seamanship, to cease rowing and lay the oars in the boat. To ship the oars, to place them in the row-locks. To unship the oars, to take them out of the row-locks. Mar. Dict.