Steerage

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Steerage \Steer"age\ (st[=e]r"[asl]j; 48), n.
     1. The act or practice of steering, or directing; as, the
        steerage of a ship.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He left the city, and, in a most tempestuous season,


              forsook the helm and steerage of the commonwealth.
                                                    --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Naut.)
        (a) The effect of the helm on a ship; the manner in which
            an individual ship is affected by the helm.
        (b) The hinder part of a vessel; the stern. [R.] --Swift.
        (c) Properly, the space in the after part of a vessel,
            under the cabin, but used generally to indicate any
            part of a vessel having the poorest accommodations and
            occupied by passengers paying the lowest rate of fare.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Direction; regulation; management; guidance.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He that hath the steerage of my course. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. That by which a course is directed. [R.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Here he hung on high,
              The steerage of his wings.            --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Steerage passenger}, a passenger who takes passage in the
        steerage of a vessel.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  steerage
       n 1: the cheapest accommodations on a passenger ship
       2: the act of steering a ship [syn: {steering}]