steerageway

English

WOTD – 4 January 2008

Alternative forms

• steerage way
• steerage-way

Etymology

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

minimum speed of a ship

• Hebrew: הֵעָנוּת לַהֶגֶה (he) f (he'anut lahege)
• Polish: prędkość sterowna f
• Swedish: styrfart c