rudder

[ ruhd-er ]

noun

1. Nautical. a vertical blade at the stern of a vessel that can be turned horizontally to change the vessel's direction when in motion.
2. Aeronautics. a movable control surface attached to a vertical stabilizer, located at the rear of an airplane and used, along with the ailerons, to turn the airplane.
3. any means of or device for governing, directing, or guiding a course, as a leader or principle:

   His ideas provided a rudder for the new company.

rudder

/ ˈrʌdə /

noun

1. nautical a pivoted vertical vane that projects into the water at the stern of a vessel and can be controlled by a tiller, wheel, or other apparatus to steer the vessel
2. a vertical control surface attached to the rear of the fin used to steer an aircraft, in conjunction with the ailerons
3. anything that guides or directs

Derived Forms

• ˈrudderless, adjective

Other Words From

• rud·dered adjective
• rud·der·less adjective
• rud·der·like adjective
• un·rud·dered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rudder¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English rodder, rother, ruder, Old English rōther; cognate with Old Frisian rōther, Middle Dutch rōder ( Dutch roer ), Old High German ruodar ( German Ruder ); akin to row ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of rudder¹

Old English rōther ; related to Old French rōther , Old High German ruodar , Old Norse rōthr . See row ²

Example Sentences

The thruster and rudder quickly got clogged up with seaweed, forcing the team to stop every few minutes, Bahman says.

From MIT Technology Review

The birds achieve top velocity by moving parallel to the ground and using their tails as rudders to stay aerodynamic and make quick turns.

From Popular-Science

A “compensator” that acts like a rudder is positioned just below the frame and connected to the front wheel.

From Outside Online

Rudder seems content to play the record keeper and let the philosophers sort out the sigificance.

From The Daily Beast

There's no longer a need to make up a story, because now, as Rudder writes, "The numbers are the narrative."

From The Daily Beast

We saw a little bit of blue fire just forward of the vertical rudder, the upper rudder.

From The Daily Beast

Of course, Rudder admits there are more pieces to the puzzle.

From The Daily Beast

If You Got It, Flaunt It Christian Rudder, co-founder OkCupid.com, is brutally honest.

From The Daily Beast

With difficulty he induced the scared ryot to take the rudder while he explained the new project.

From Project Gutenberg

A single oar used rather as rudder than paddle guides the tank to the middle of the stream, where it floats to its destination.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr Jones, without making a remark of any kind, shipped the rudder; the other four pulled.

From Project Gutenberg

The sea seemed to be fining off a bit, so they looked round, and found to their horror that the rudder was gone.

From Project Gutenberg

On the deck aft, about a couple of feet in advance of the rudder-head, are fitted two brass stanchions.

From Project Gutenberg

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