oarhole en · NOUN
Etymology
From Middle English ore hol, equivalent to oar + hole.
Meanings
-
a slot or opening in the side of a galley or ship through which an oar is fitted
Oarholes were sealed when not in use by wooden covers that rotated in place to keep out water. A slot cut into the oarhole allowed the blade of the oar to pass through the oarhole so oars could be deployed entirely inboard of the ship.
2016, William R. Short, Icelanders in the Viking Age:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| oarholes | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| oar-hole | alternative | lexicographic |