I. till·er ˈtilə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English tiliere, tilier, tiler, from tilien, tilen tillen to till + -ere, -er -er
1. : one that tills : husbandman , cultivator , plowman
2. : an implement for tilling ground
II. til·ler noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English tiler stock of a crossbow, from Middle French telier, literally, beam of a loom, from Medieval Latin telarium, from Latin tela web + -arium -ary — more at toil
1. : a notched stick used to hold a bow drawn during its shaping
2.
a. : a lever of wood or metal that is fitted to the rudderhead and used for turning the rudder from side to side and that in small boats is usually turned by hand but in ships is moved by mechanical appliances, is usually in the form of a quadrant extending on each side of the rudderhead perpendicular to the keel, and has a rope or chain leading forward from each end to the wheel or other steering device
b. : a bar used for steering a vehicle (as an automobile)
3. : a handle shaped like a boat's tiller: as
a. : the upper handle of a pit saw
b. : a two-handled bar for turning the rope in rope drilling
4. or tiller wheel : a steering wheel controlling the rear wheels or trailer section of a vehicle (as a ladder truck)
III. til·ler verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
: to use a tiller in archery
transitive verb
: to shape (a bow) to correct curvature
IV. til·ler noun
( -s )
Etymology: from (assumed) Middle English, from Old English telgor, telgra branch, twig, shoot; akin to Old High German zelga twig, Old Norse tjalga thin twig, telgja to shape by hewing, Latin dolare to hew — more at condole
1. : a young timber tree : sapling
2. : sprout , stalk ; especially : one from the base of a plant or from the axils of its lower leaves — compare stool 4
V. til·ler intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to put forth tillers
some wheats and ryes tiller freely