— ruddered , adj. — rudderless , adj. — rudderlike , adj.
/rud"euhr/ , n.
1. Naut. a vertical blade at the stern of a vessel that can be turned horizontally to change the vessel's direction when in motion.
2. Aeron. a movable control surface attached to a vertical stabilizer, located at the rear of an airplane and used, along with the ailerons, to turn the airplane.
3. any means of or device for governing, directing, or guiding a course, as a leader or principle: His ideas provided a rudder for the new company.
[ bef. 900; ME rodder, rother, ruder, OE rother; c. OFris rother, MD roder (D roer ), OHG ruodar (G Ruder ); akin to ROW 2 ]