The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Thole \Thole\, n. [Written also thowel, and thowl.] [OE.
   thol, AS. [thorn]ol; akin to D. dol, Icel. [thorn]ollr a fir
   tree, a young fir, a tree, a thole.]
   1. A wooden or metal pin, set in the gunwale of a boat, to
      serve as a fulcrum for the oar in rowing. --Longfellow.
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   2. The pin, or handle, of a scythe snath.
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   Thole pin. Same as Thole.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Thole \Thole\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tholed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Tholing.] [OE. [thorn]olen, [thorn]olien, AS. [thorn]olian;
   akin to OS. thol[=o]n, OHG. dol[=e]n, G. geduld patience,
   dulden to endure, Icel. [thorn]ola, Sw. t[*a]la, Dan. taale,
   Goth. [thorn]ulan, L. tolerate, tulisse, to endure, bear,
   tollere to lift, bear, Gr. ? to bear, Skr. tul to lift.
   [root]55. Cf. Tolerate.]
   To bear; to endure; to undergo. [Obs. or Scot.] --Gower.
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         So much woe as I have with you tholed.   --Chaucer.
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         To thole the winter's steely dribble.    --Burns.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Thole \Thole\, v. i.
   To wait. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
   [1913 Webster] Thomaean

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

thole
    n 1: a holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the
         oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing [syn: peg,
         pin, thole, tholepin, rowlock, oarlock]