Part 774

Steep"-up` (?), a. Lofty and precipitous. [R.]

Her stand she takes upon a steep-up hill.

Shak.

Steep"y (?), a. Steep; precipitous. [Poetic]

No more, my goats, shall I belong you climb The steepy cliffs, or crop the flow'ry thyme.

Dryden.

Steer (?), n. [OE. steer, AS. steór; akin to D. & G. stier a bull, OHG. stior, Icel. stjrr, &?;jrr, Sw. tjur, Dan. tyr, Goth. stiur, Russ. tur', Pol. tur, Ir. & Gael. tarbh, W. tarw, L. taurus, Gr. &?;, Skr. sth&?;ra strong, stout, AS. stor large, Icel. strr, OHG. st&?;ri, stiuri. √168. Cf. Stirk, Taurine, a.] A young male of the ox kind; especially, a common ox; a castrated taurine male from two to four years old. See the Note under Ox.

Steer, v. t. To castrate; -- said of male calves.

Steer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Steered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Steering.] [OE. steeren, steren, AS. stiéran, st&?;ran, steóran; akin to OFries. stiora, stiura, D. sturen, OD. stieren, G. steuren, OHG. stiuren to direct, support, G. steuer contribution, tax, Icel. st&?;ra to steer, govern,Sw. styra, Dan. styre, Goth. stiurjan to establish, AS. steór a rudder, a helm, and probably to Icel. staurr a pale, stake, Gr. &?;, and perhaps ultimately to E. stand. √168. Cf. Starboard, Stern, n.] To direct the course of; to guide; to govern; -- applied especially to a vessel in the water.

That with a staff his feeble steps did steer.

Spenser.

Steer, v. i. 1. To direct a vessel in its course; to direct one's course. "No helmsman steers." Tennyson.

2. To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm; as, the boat steers easily.

Where the wind Veers oft, as oft [a ship] so steers, and shifts her sail.

Milton.

3. To conduct one's self; to take or pursue a course of action.

Steer, n. [AS. steór, stiór; akin to D. stuur, G. steuer, Icel. st&?;ri. √186. See Steer, v. t.] [Written also stere.] A rudder or helm. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Steer, n. [AS. steóra. See Steer a rudder.] A helmsman, a pilot. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Steer"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being steered; dirigible.

Steer"age (?), n. 1. The act or practice of steering, or directing; as, the steerage of a ship.

He left the city, and, in a most tempestuous season, forsook the helm and steerage of the common wealth.

Milton.

2. (Naut.) (a) The effect of the helm on a ship; the manner in which an individual ship is affected by the helm. (b) The hinder part of a vessel; the stern. [R.] Swift. (c) Properly, the space in the after part of a vessel, under the cabin, but used generally to indicate any part of a vessel having the poorest accommodations and occupied by passengers paying the lowest rate of fare.

3. Direction; regulation; management; guidance.

He that hath the steerage of my course.

Shak.

4. That by which a course is directed. [R.]

Here he hung on high, The steerage of his wings.