Thwart
WordNet
noun
(1) A crosspiece spreading the gunnels of a boat; used as a seat in a rowboat
verb
(2) Hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
"What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"
"Foil your opponent"
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From , cognates include Danish , Gothic , German .
Verb
- to prevent; to halt; to cause to fail; to foil; to frustrate
- The police thwarted the would-be assassin.
- Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the thunderstorm.
Noun
- 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 doughout canoe rarely needs a thwart.
- A seat that is incorporated into the design of a small boat's thwart.
- The fisherman sat on the aft thwart to row.