STEERAGE, n. 1. The act or practice of directing and governing in a course; as the steerage of a ship.[In this sense, I believe the word is now little used.]2. In seamens language, the effort of a helm, or its effect on the ship.3. In a ship, an apartment forward of the great cabin, from which it is separated by a bulk-head or partition, or an apartment in the fore part of a ship for passengers. In ships of war it serves as a hall or antichamber to the great cabin.4. The part of a ship where the tiller traverses.5. Direction; regulation.He that hath the steerage of my course. [Little used.]6. Regulation or management.You raise the honor of the peerage, proud to attend you at the steerage. 7. That by which a course is directed.Here he hung on high the steerage of his wings---[Steerage, in the general sense of direction or management, is in popular use, but by no means an elegant word. It is said, a young man when he sets out in life, makes bad steerage; but no good writer would introduce the word into elegant writing.]
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