[til.ler] n [fr. (assumed) ME, fr. OE telgor, telgra twig, shoot; akin to OHG zelga twig, OIr dlongaid he splits] (bef. 12c): stalk, sprout; esp: one from the base of a plant or from the axils of its lower leaves
[2]til.ler vi til.lered ; til.ler.ing (1677) of a plant: to put forth tillers [3]till.er n (13c): one that tills: cultivator [4]til.ler n [ME tiler stock of a crossbow, fr. MF telier, lit., beam of a loom, fr. ML telarium, fr. L tela web--more at toil] (ca. 1625): a lever used to turn the rudder of a boat from side to side; broadly: a device or system that plays a part in steering something