ROWLOCK

peg, pin, thole, tholepin, rowlock, oarlock

(noun) a holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

rowlock (plural rowlocks)

(nautical, chiefly, 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).

Synonyms: oarlock, thole, tholepin, thowel

Source: Wiktionary

Row"lock ( colloq. , n. Etym: [For oarlock; AS. *rloc, where the second part is skin to G. loch a hole, E. lock a fastening. See Oar, and Lock.] (Naut.)

Definition: A contrivance or arrangement serving as a fulcrum for an oar in rowing. It consists sometimes of a notch in the gunwale of a boat, sometimes of a pair of pins between which the oar rests on the edge of the gunwale, sometimes of a single pin passing through the oar, or of a metal fork or stirrup pivoted in the gunwale and suporting the oar.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition