Steer
(Steer) n. [OE. steer, AS. steór; akin to D. & G. stier a bull, OHG. stior, Icel. stjorr, jorr, Sw.
tjur, Dan. tyr, Goth. stiur, Russ. tur', Pol. tur, Ir. & Gael. tarbh, W. tarw, L. taurus, Gr. Skr. sthra
strong, stout, AS. stor large, Icel. storr, OHG. stri, stiuri. &radic168. Cf. Stirk, Taurine, a.] A
young male of the ox kind; especially, a common ox; a castrated taurine male from two to four years old.
See the Note under Ox.
Steer
(Steer), v. t. To castrate; — said of male calves.
Steer
(Steer), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Steering.] [OE. steeren, steren, AS.
stiéran, stran, steóran; akin to OFries. stiora, stiura, D. sturen, OD. stieren, G. steuren, OHG. stiuren
to direct, support, G. steuer contribution, tax, Icel. stra to steer, govern,Sw. styra, Dan. styre, Goth.
stiurjan to establish, AS. steór a rudder, a helm, and probably to Icel. staurr a pale, stake, Gr. and perhaps
ultimately to E. stand. &radic168. Cf. Starboard, Stern, n.] To direct the course of; to guide; to govern; —
applied especially to a vessel in the water.
That with a staff his feeble steps did steer.
Spenser. Steer
(Steer), v. i.
1. To direct a vessel in its course; to direct one's course. "No helmsman steers." Tennyson.
2. To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm; as, the boat steers easily.
Where the wind
Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail.
Milton. 3. To conduct one's self; to take or pursue a course of action.
Steer
(Steer), n. [AS. steór, stiór; akin to D. stuur, G. steuer, Icel. stri. &radic186. See Steer, v. t.]
[Written also stere.] A rudder or helm. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Steer
(Steer), n. [AS. steóra. See Steer a rudder.] A helmsman, a pilot. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Steerable
(Steer"a*ble) a. Capable of being steered; dirigible.
Steerage
(Steer"age) n.
1. The act or practice of steering, or directing; as, the steerage of a ship.
He left the city, and, in a most tempestuous season, forsook the helm and steerage of the common
wealth.
Milton. 2. (Naut.) (a) The effect of the helm on a ship; the manner in which an individual ship is affected by
the helm. (b) The hinder part of a vessel; the stern. [R.] Swift. (c) Properly, the space in the after
part of a vessel, under the cabin, but used generally to indicate any part of a vessel having the poorest
accommodations and occupied by passengers paying the lowest rate of fare.
3. Direction; regulation; management; guidance.
He that hath the steerage of my course.
Shak. 4. That by which a course is directed. [R.]
Here he hung on high,
The steerage of his wings.
Dryden. Steerage passenger, a passenger who takes passage in the steerage of a vessel.
