Thwart (4.26.2009)

Definitions of thwart on the Web:

• hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; "What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent"
• a crosspiece spreading the gunnels of a boat; used as a seat in a rowboat
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

• A thwart is a strut placed crosswise (left/right) in a ship or boat, to brace it crosswise.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thwart

• 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 seat that is incorporated into the design of a small boat's thwart; to prevent; to halt; to cause to fail; to foil; to frustrate
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/thwart

• thwarted - defeated: disappointingly unsuccessful; "disappointed expectations and thwarted ambitions"; "their foiled attempt to capture Calais"; "many ...