man the oars

THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINNに動詞の "man" が出てきました。
Then Jim manned the oars, and we took out after our raft.
...
We hustled it on to the raft in a pile, and I told Jim to float along down, and show a light when he judged he had gone about two mile, and keep it burning till I come; then I manned my oars and shoved for the light.
辞書で引用文の例に近い "man" の用法・意味を探したのですがピッタリ当てはまるのはほとんど無く、次ぎの二つの辞書の例が多分近い説明でしょう。　
・Encarta: be ready to use something: to be ready to operate or defend something
・SeaTalk Dictionary of English Nautical Language: To take up a duty position, as in: “Man the pump, and clear the bilge.”