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 even with a joystick or an autopilot).
Other meanings
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.
A riddle or sieve.
Related words
- ruddered
- rudderhole
- rudder roll
- rudder stock
- rudderlike
- rudderpost
- rudderstock
- balance rudder
- bow rudder
- drop rudder
- Dutch rudder
- rudder authority
Word history
From Old English "rōþor" (oar, rudder).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “rudder” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.