sheave v also sheeve [phonetics unavailable] OED ~ v2 (1611-); EDD v2 D. (a) In rowing a boat, to hold one or both oars in the water to stop, turn or reverse direction, to back water; BELAY; (b) to reverse (ship's) engines; to row backwards.
1896 Dial Notes i, 381 ~ : to hold water with the oar to stop the boat or turn more quickly. 1924 ENGLAND 147 Still de engineer try to sheeve [back-waterl. Can't strike de cap'n of a ship, ye know. 1937 DEVINE 43 ~ To 'back water' in rowing a boat. T 70-641 An' by an' by she hove in sight again. A man sot forrard, facin' forrard, sheavin' the paddles. T 393/5-67 Not my first time goin' down the shore in the morning. an' by an' by I'd be sheavin' instead o' rowin'. A yell 'd come out o' my father: 'Keep your paddles out o' the water, an' row! Never mind sheavin' astern!' Q 71-10 Sheeve: to turn a boat by holding one oar firmly in the water or lifting it out and pulling on the other oar. P 29-74 ~ To row backwards, but not turn the boat around in the process.
