noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
US:rōlŏk
US:rä'lək
US:rŭ'lək
US:/ˈɹoʊˌlɑk/
US:/ˈɹɑlək/
US:/ˈɹʌlək/
UK:rŭ'lək
UK:rŏ'lək
UK:rōlŏk
UK:/ˈɹʌlək/
UK:/ˈɹɒlək/
UK:/ˈɹəʊˌlɒk/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A usually U-shaped 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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: oarlock
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A brick, for example in a course of brickwork, that is laid vertically with its tallest but slimmest side facing down, and its shortest face facing the outside of the wall (oriented so that it is taller than it is wide).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
a holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: peg, pin, thole, tholepin, oarlock
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: holder
History
Etymology
An alteration, based on row, of earlier oarlock, from Old English ārlōc, equivalent to oar + lock.
Across languages
Translations
34 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
ключ
(ključ)
— support for an oar
Catalan:
escàlem
— support for an oar
Catalan:
escalamera
— support for an oar
Dutch:
dol
— support for an oar
Finnish:
hankain
— support for an oar
Finnish:
hankaintappi
— support for an oar
French:
dame de nage
— support for an oar
Galician:
tolete
— support for an oar
Galician:
chumaceira
— support for an oar
German:
Dolle
— support for an oar
Greek:
σκαρμός
(skarmós)
— support for an oar
Irish:
glacán
— support for an oar
Irish:
leaba iomartha
— support for an oar
Irish:
roillic
— support for an oar
Irish:
dola
— support for an oar
Italian:
scalmiera
— support for an oar
Italian:
forcola
— support for an oar
Latin:
scalmus
— support for an oar
Māori:
rōraka
— support for an oar
Norwegian Bokmål:
åregaffel
— support for an oar
Norwegian Bokmål:
tollegaffel
— support for an oar
Norwegian Bokmål:
tollepinne
— support for an oar
Norwegian Nynorsk:
hå
— support for an oar
Norwegian Nynorsk:
keip
— support for an oar
Norwegian Nynorsk:
keipe
— support for an oar
Norwegian Nynorsk:
tollegang
— support for an oar
Portuguese:
forqueta
— support for an oar
Russian:
уклю́чина
(ukljúčina)
— support for an oar
