A set of eight persons or things. The crew of a rowing boat, consisting of eight oarsmen; a boat for eight oarsmen. the Eights: boat-races at the…

A set of four persons or things: esp. A four-oared boat or a crew of four oarsmen. fours, races for four-oared boats.

an eight-oared boat's provisional crew, from among whom some members of the final eight may be chosen.