OAR

By the act of will man strives with the oar to steer his way through the waters of life.

OAR

[Origin: bef. 900; ME ore, OE ār; c. ON ār]

1.	a long shaft with a broad blade at one end, used as a lever for rowing or otherwise propelling or steering a boat.

2.	something resembling this or having a similar purpose.

3.	a person who rows; oarsman.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to propel with or as if with oars; row.

5.	to traverse or make (one's way) by, or as if by, rowing.

–verb (used without object)

6.

to row.

7.	to move or advance as if by rowing.

—Idioms

8.	put in one's oar, to meddle; interfere: He put in his oar and was told to mind his own business.

9.	rest on one's oars, to cease to make an effort; relax after exertion; stop working after success or completing a task: Once he became president, he was content to rest on his oars.

[Middle English or, from Old English ār.]

oar

O.E. ar (said to be from O.N. ar), from P.Gmc. *airo; perhaps rel. to L. remus "oar," Gk. eretes "rower," eretmos "oar."