rudder

Meaning

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. That which resembles a rudder as a guide or governor; that which guides or governs the course.

Concepts

rudder

helm

bow

drill

maneuvering device

propeller

saw

shackle

televisor

thrust propeller

thruster

thruster machinery compartment

winch

steering wheel

tiller

rectrix

steer

tilt

stern

handlebars

ladder

steering

steering gear

wheel

rudder angle

motivator

steering oar

controls

rudder blade

rudderhead

oar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹʌdə(ɹ)/

Etymology

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.