steerage

STEERAGE, noun 1. The act or practice of directing and governing in a course; as the steerage of a ship. [In this sense, I believe the word is now little used.] 2. In seamens language, the effort of a helm, or its effect on the ship. 3. In a ship, an apartment forward of the great cabin, from which it is separated by a bulk-head or partition, or an apartment in the fore part of a ship for passengers. In ships of war it serves as a hall or antichamber to the great cabin. 4. The part of a ship where the tiller traverses. 5. Direction; regulation. He that hath the steerage of my course. [Little used.] 6. Regulation or management. You raise the honor of the peerage, proud to attend you at the steerage 7. That by which a course is directed. Here he hung on high the steerage of his wings--- [Steerage, in the general sense of direction or management, is in popular use, but by no means an elegant word. It is said, a young man when he sets out in life, makes bad steerage; but no good writer would introduce the word into elegant writing.]