thwarts

Noun

thwart (plural thwarts)

1. A seat across a boat on which a rower may sit.
   • The fisherman sat on the aft thwart to row.

   Synonyms:

   thaught, thawt, thoft

2. A brace, perpendicular to the keel, that helps maintain the beam (“breadth”) of a marine vessel against external water pressure and that may serve to support the rail.
   • A well-made dugout canoe rarely needs a thwart.
3. (rare) An act of thwarting; something which thwarts; a hindrance, an obstacle.

See all 12 meanings of thwart