Oar cock (Zoöl), the water rail. [Prov. Eng.] -- Spoon oar, an oar
having the blade so curved as to afford a better hold upon the water in
rowing. -- To boat the oars, to cease rowing, and lay the oars in the
boat. -- To feather the oars. See under Feather., v. t. -- To lie on
the oars, to cease pulling, raising the oars out of water, but not
boating them; to cease from work of any kind; to be idle; to rest. --
To muffle the oars, to put something round that part which rests in the
rowlock, to prevent noise in rowing. -- To put in one's oar, to give
aid or advice; -- commonly used of a person who obtrudes aid or counsel
not invited. -- To ship the oars, to place them in the rowlocks. -- To
toss the oars, To peak the oars, to lift them from the rowlocks and
hold them perpendicularly, the handle resting on the bottom of the
boat. - - To trail oars, to allow them to trail in the water alongside
of the boat. -- To unship the oars, to take them out of the rowlocks.
Oar, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Oared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Oaring.] To
row. "Oared himself." Shak.
Oared with laboring arms.
Pope.
Oared (?), a. 1. Furnished with oars; -- chiefly used in composition;
as, a four- oared boat.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) Having feet adapted for swimming. (b) Totipalmate; --
said of the feet of certain birds. See Illust. of Aves.
Oared shrew (Zoöl.), an aquatic European shrew (Crossopus ciliatus); --
called also black water shrew.
Oar"fish` (r"fsh`), n. (Zoöl.) The ribbon fish.
Oar"foot` (-ft`), n. (Zoöl.) Any crustacean of the genus Remipes.
Oar"-foot`ed a. Having feet adapted for swimming.
Oar"less, a. Without oars. Sylvester.
Oar"lock` (r"lk`), n. (Naut.), The notch, fork, or other device on the
gunwale of a boat, in which the oar rests in rowing. See Rowlock.
Oars"man (rz"man), n.; pl. Oarsmen (-men). One who uses, or is skilled
in the use of, an oar; a rower.
At the prow of the boat, rose one of the oarsmen.
Longfellow.
Oars"weed` (r"wd`), n. (Bot.) Any large seaweed of the genus Laminaria;
tangle; kelp. See Kelp.
Oar"y (r"), a. Having the form or the use of an oar; as, the swan's
oary feet. Milton. Addison.
O"as*is ("*ss or *"ss; 277), n.; pl. Oases (-sz). [L., fr. Gr. 'o`asis;
cf. Copt. ouahe.] A fertile or green spot in a waste or desert, esp. in
a sandy desert.
My one oasis in the dust and drouth Of city life.
Tennyson.
Oast (st), n. [OE. ost, AS. st; cf. Gr. a'i^qos burning heat.] A kiln
to dry hops or malt; a cockle. Mortimer.
Oat (t), n.; pl. Oats (ts). [OE. ote, ate, AS. ta, akin to Fries. oat.
Of uncertain origin.] 1. (Bot.) A well-known cereal grass (Avena
sativa), and its edible grain; -- commonly used in the plural and in a
collective sense.