rudder
[ ruhd-er ]
/ ˈrʌd ər /
noun
Nautical. a vertical blade at the stern of a vessel that can be turned horizontally to change the vessel's direction when in motion.
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.
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.
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Origin of rudder
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 row2
OTHER WORDS FROM rudder
ruddered, adjectiverud·der·less, adjectiverud·der·like, adjectiveun·rud·dered, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for rudder
British Dictionary definitions for rudder
rudder
/ (ˈrʌdə) /
noun
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
a vertical control surface attached to the rear of the fin used to steer an aircraft, in conjunction with the ailerons
anything that guides or directs
Derived forms of rudder
rudderless, adjectiveWord Origin for rudder
Old English rōther; related to Old French rōther, Old High German ruodar, Old Norse rōthr . See row ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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