to feather an oar
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To turn the blade parallel with the surface of the water as the hands are moved forward for a fresh stroke. The oar throws off the water in a feathery spray.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to feather an oar” mean?
To turn the blade parallel with the surface of the water as the hands are moved forward for a fresh stroke. The oar throws off the water in a feathery spray.
Is “to feather an oar” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.