steerage Hear it!

steerage Definition

steer·age (stir′ij)

noun

    1. the act of steering (a ship, etc.)
    2. the response of a ship to the helmsman's guidance

  2. Etymology: orig. located near the steering mechanism

    Historical a section in some ships, with the poorest accommodations, occupied by the passengers paying the lowest fare

steerage Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • get: Approaching Salter's Lode Lock somewhat fast to get steerage, as going with a serious flood tide.
  • maintain: My recollection of meeting these boats was that they where always going like a bat out of hell to maintain steerage.
  • travel: Traveling steerage; sitting on hard wooden train seats; walking miles and miles and sleeping where they fell in tiredness.

Modifies a noun

  • hoe: In many of these crops, good weed control could be achieved using steerage hoes without the need for hand labor.
  • passenger: Among the steerage passengers the fell disease was represented in the person of a little boy.
  • class: The different fares may relate to port of disembarkation rather than any distinction between cabin and steerage class.
  • passage: Well, I was compelled to take a steerage passage, good enough for me.
  • way: The Original Beaufort Scale 1 Light Air Or just sufficient to give steerage way.

Noun used with modifier

  • tractor: It has the advantage that it can be operated under moister soil conditions than a tractor steerage hoe.