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Feather One’s Oar (To)

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To feather an oar is to turn the blade parallel with the surface of the water as the hands are moved forward for a fresh stroke. (The Greek pteron means both “an oar” and “a feather;” and the verb pteroŏ, to “furnish with oars” or “with feathers.”) The oar throws off the water in a feathery spray.

“He feathered his oars with such skill and dexterity.”


Jolly Young Waterman.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Fay
Faye
Fazio
Fear Fortress
Fearless [Sans peur]
Feast of Reason
Feasts
Feather
Feather in Your Cap
Feather One’s Nest
Feather One’s Oar (To)
Feather Stone
Feathers (The)
Feature
February
Fecit (Latin, he did it)
Fecula
Federal States
Fee
Fee-farm-rent
Fee-penny