n.1 the act of steering.
2 the effect of the helm on a ship.
3 archaic the part of a ship allotted to passengers travelling at the cheapest rate.
4 hist. (in a warship) quarters assigned to midshipmen etc. just forward of the wardroom.
Phrases and idioms:
steerage-way the amount of headway required by a vessel to enable her to be controlled by the helm.