rudder

nounattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈɹʌdəː//
United Kingdom/[ˈɹʌdəː]/
United States//ˈɹʌdɚ//
United States/[ˈɹʌ̈dɚ] ~ [ˈɹʌ̈dɹ̩]/

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).

noun

1
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
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
figurativeThat which resembles a rudder as a guide or governor; that which guides or governs the course.
For rhyme the rudder is of verses,/With which, like ships, they steer their courses.
5
The tail of an otter.
He sniffed Tarka’s hair from rudder to neck, and his nose remained at the neck. It was a strange smell, and he sniffed carefully, not wanting to touch the fur with his nostrils.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- Proto-Indo-European *h₁roh₁-(ye-)-tider. Proto-Germanic *rōaną Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *-trom Proto-Germanic *-þrą Proto-Germanic *rōþrą Proto-West Germanic *rōþr Old English rōþor Middle English rother English rudder From Middle English rodder, rother, ruder, from Old English rōþor (“oar, rudder”), from Proto-West Germanic *rōþr, from Proto-Germanic *rōþrą (“oar, rudder”) (compare Dutch and West Frisian roer, German Ruder), from Proto-Germanic *rōaną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (“to row”) + Proto-Germanic *-þrą, *-þraz, instrumental suffix. Akin to Old English rōwan (“to row”). More at rōwan, -þor.

Forms

plural: rudders

ruby · A clear, deep, red variety of corundum, valued as a precious…Ruby · A female given name.ruckus · A raucous disturbance and/or commotion.

rudder · 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…

ruddy · Reddish in color, especially of the face, fire, or sky.Ruddy · A surname.rude · Lacking in refinement or civility; bad-mannered; discourteous.

The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.