The thole pins are designed to give way if too much pressure is put on them, thus protecting the boat itself from damage.

In spite of the cloth wrapped round the oars, the thole pins themselves, not a tight fit, still groaned as if protesting.

However, thole pins were better than rowlocks for silent work, and he was thankful they were fitted to the cutters.

The third man jumped into it, put in the thole pins and then unlashed the oars.

Two holes were drilled into them and into the gunwales which allowed for thole pins to be inserted.

The men had already slipped their oars between the thole pins, ready to depart.

The oars did not use rowlocks or thole pins but square holes cut below the gunwhale line.

He gripped the great oar; liftedit out of the thole pins.

Laughing with excitement, they seized the long oars that were lying ready and thrust them between the thole pins.

By chance the smallest one was nearest the water's edge and had oars and thole pins in it.