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rudderless

 - 3 dictionary results

rud⋅der

  [ruhd-er]
Use rudderless in a Sentence
–noun
1. Nautical. a vertical blade at the stern of a vessel that can be turned horizontally to change the vessel's direction when in motion.
2. Aeronautics. 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.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME rodder, rother, ruder, OE rōther; c. OFris rōther, MD rōder (D roer), OHG ruodar (G Ruder); akin to row 2

Related forms:
ruddered, adjective
rud⋅der⋅less, adjective
rud⋅der⋅like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To rudderless
rud·der·less   (rŭd'ər-lĭs)   
adj.  

  1. Lacking in direction, control, or coherence: the confused and rudderless financial markets; characterized the administration's Central American policy as rudderless.

  2. Having no rudder.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

rudder 
O.E. roðor "paddle, oar," from P.Gmc. *rothru- (cf. O.Fris. roder, M.L.G. roder, M.Du. roeder, Du. roer, O.H.G. ruodar, Ger. Ruder "oar"), from *ro- "steer" (see row (2)) + suffix -þra, used to form neutral names of tools. Meaning "broad, flat piece of wood attached to the stern of a boat and used for steering" is from c.1303. Spelling with -d- for -th- first recorded 1440.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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