A.rowing, oarage, “πρῶτα μὲν εἰρεσίη, μετέπειτα δὲ κάλλιμος οὖρος” Od.11.640; “εἰρεσίῃ χρᾶσθαι” Hdt.1.203, 4.110; “εἰρεσίας ζυγόν” S.Aj.249 (lyr.); “εἰ. τῶν τριήρων” Arist.Mete.369b10: metaph., “εἰ. πτερῶν” Luc.Tim.40; παρὰ δ᾽ εἰρεσίᾳ μαστῶν ἕπεται Ἀστυάναξ close to her throbbing breast, E.Tr.570 (anap.); “εἰρεσίῃ γλώσσης” Dionys.Eleg.4.3.
2. oar, Ph.1.352,385.
II. in collective sense, rowers, oarsmen, E.Hel.1453(lyr.), AP7.287 (Antip.(?)); ξυνέχειν τὴν εἰ. keep the oars together or make the rowers keep time, Th.7.14.
III. pl., rowers' benches, Plb.1.21.2. (The Ep. form, due to metrical lengthening, is retained in Prose.)