steerageway

English

WOTD – 4 January 2008

Alternative forms

Etymology

From steerage +‎ way.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈstɪə.ɹɪd͡ʒˌweɪ/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈstiɹɪd͡ʒˌweɪ/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

steerageway (countable and uncountable, plural steerageways)

  1. (nautical) The minimum speed of a ship, below which it does not answer the helm and cannot be steered.
    • 1902, Jack London, “chapter XII”, in The Cruise of the Dazzler:
      The latter made one tremendous spurt, then gave up in despair and hauled in his oars. French Pete let go the main-sheet, lost steerageway as he rounded up alongside the motionless skiff, and dragged Joe out.

Translations

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