What does "oarlock" mean?

A usually U-shaped device attached to the gunwale of a rowboat to hold the oars in place while rowing.

What is a synonym for "oarlock"?

Common synonyms include: rowlock, arbor, axis, bearing, fulcrum, gudgeon.

noun

noun ·2 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
A usually U-shaped device attached to the gunwale of a rowboat to hold the oars in place while rowing.
"But, as luck would have it, scarcely had he started to row his boat again when an oarlock broke, and so it took him the best part of an hour to make the trip."
2
a holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing wordnet

"The oar fell out of its oarlock."

From oar + lock.