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Webster 1913 Edition


Rudder

Rud′der

,
Noun.
A riddle or sieve.
[Prov. Eng.]

Rud′der

,
Noun.
[OE.
rother
, AS.
rōðer
a paddle; akin to D.
roer
rudder, oar, G.
ruder
, OHG.
roadar
, Sw.
roder
,
ror
, Dan.
roer
,
ror
. √ 8. See
Row
to propel with an oar, and cf.
Rother
. ]
1.
(Naut.)
The mechanical appliance by means of which a vessel is guided or steered when in motion. It is a broad and flat blade made of wood or iron, with a long shank, and is fastened in an upright position, usually by one edge, to the sternpost of the vessel in such a way that it can be turned from side to side in the water by means of a tiller, wheel, or other attachment.
2.
Fig.: That which resembles a rudder as a guide or governor; that which guides or governs the course.
For rhyme the
rudder
is of verses.
Hudibras.
Balance rudder
(Naut.)
,
a rudder pivoted near the middle instead of at the edge, – common on sharpies.
Drop rudder
(Naut.)
,
a rudder extending below the keel so as to be more effective in steering.
Rudder chain
(Naut.)
,
one of the loose chains or ropes which fasten the rudder to the quarters to prevent its loss in case it gets unshipped, and for operating it in case the tiller or the wheel is broken.
Rudder coat
(Naut.)
,
a covering of tarred canvas used to prevent water from entering the rudderhole.
Rudder fish
.
(Zool.)
(a)
The pilot fish
.
(b)
The amber fish (
Seriola zonata
), which is bluish having six broad black bands
.
(c)
A plain greenish black American fish (
Leirus perciformis
); – called also
black rudder fish
,
logfish
, and
barrel fish
. The name is also applied to other fishes which follow vessels.
Rudder pendants
(Naut.)
,
ropes connected with the rudder chains.

Webster 1828 Edition


Rudder

RUD'DER

,
Noun.
[See Row. The oar was the first rudder used by man, and is still the instrument of steering certain boats.]
1.
In navigation, the instrument by which a ship is steered; that part of the helm which consists of a piece of timber, broad at the bottom, which enters the water and is attached to the stern-post by hinges, on which it turns. This timber is managed by means of the tiller or wheel.
2.
That which guides or governs the course.
For rhyme the rudder is of verses.
3.
A sieve. [Local. See Riddle.]
Rudder perch, a small fish with the upper part of the body brown, varied with large round spots of yellow, the belly and sides streaked with lines of white and yellow. This fish is said to follow the rudders of ships in the warm parts of the Atlantic.

Definition 2024


Rudder

Rudder

See also: rudder

Luxembourgish

Noun

Rudder n (plural Rudderen)

  1. rudder
  2. oar

rudder

rudder

See also: Rudder

English

Noun

rudder (plural rudders)

  1. (nautical) An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).
  2. (aeronautics) A control surface on the vertical stabilizer of a fixed-wing aircraft or an autogyro. On some craft, the entire vertical stabilizer comprises the rudder. The rudder is controlled by foot-operated control pedals.
  3. A riddle or sieve.
  4. (figuratively) That which resembles a rudder as a guide or governor; that which guides or governs the course.
    • Hudibras
      For rhyme the rudder is of verses.

Derived terms

Translations

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