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quant pole

n. A long pole#Noun for propelling a punt#Noun or barge#Noun.

Wikipedia
Quant pole

A quant (quant pole) is a pole used to propel a barge (barge pole) or punt through water. A barge quant often has a cap at the top and a prong at the bottom to stop it from sinking into the mud. On the Norfolk Broads these are called a Bott and a Shoe respectively. A quant used with a punt is about long and made from either wood or a hollow metal, so that in either case it floats if left in the water.

On the Norfolk Broads a quant is used to propel yachts, especially those lacking an engine, when the wind does not suit. Large sailing wherries employed a quant pole at least in length.

A quant is used not only to propel such craft, but also to steer them by acting as a rudder. The operator of the quant can stick the quant behind the barge or punt to determine the direction of travel.

There is also a popular saying: "I wouldn't touch that thing with a barge pole!" (sometimes rendered as "a 10 foot pole").

Usage examples of "quant pole".

I threw Nimue into the small boat of bundled reeds, slashed the painter with my new sword and pushed the boat away from the wooden stage only to realize I had no quant pole to drive the clumsy craft out into the intricate maze of channels and lakes that laced the marsh.