row-port Naut.
[f. row v.1 + port n.3 2. Cf. rowlock and oar-port.]
(See quots.)
| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780) s.v. Row-lock, In the sides of the smallest vessels of war, a number of little square holes, called row-ports, are cut for this purpose, parallel to the surface of the water. 1846 A. Young Naut. Dict., Row-port, ports cut through the sides of any small vessel that may have occasion to use sweeps during calm weather. c 1850 Rudim. Navig. (Weale) 144 Row-ports, square scuttles cut through the sides of frigates, sloops, and small vessels, one between each port in midships. |