the.com/oars
Levers that turn human grumbling directly into forward motion across water.
means Long poles with flat blades, pulled against water to row a boat forward.
from From Old English ar, the same word that floated through every seafaring Germanic tongue, unchanged because the job never changed.
Backwards winRowers face away from where they go.
FeatheringTwisting the blade flat cuts wind drag.
Oar vs paddleOars pivot on the boat, paddles do not.