Category:Steerage

Steer"age, n.

1. The act or practice of steering, or directing; as, the steerage of A ship. He left the city, and, in a most tempestuous season, forsook the helm And steerage of the common wealth. Milton.

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.

3. Direction; regulation; management; guidance. He that hath the steerage of my course. Shak.

4. That by which a course is directed. [r.] Here he hung on high, the steerage of his wings. Dryden. Steerage passenger, a passenger who takes passage in the steerage of A vessel.