vbl. sb. [f. STEER v.1 + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb, in various senses.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 574. Sipmen here steringe forgeten for hire [the siren’s] stefninge.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IX. 510. Thai twa the land had in stering.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, II. iii. (Skeat), 107. Shal fyr ben blamed for it brende a foole naturelly, by his own stulty witte in steringe?
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 89. The persons defiled with it [were] of so eminent a place in the steering and upholding of their church.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), s.v., The perfection of steering consists in a vigilant attention to the motion of the ship’s head.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxi. IV. 641. But now came a crisis which required the most skilful steering.
1875. Encycl. Brit., III. 665/1. Steering … is managed by a transverse handle attached to the driving-wheel [of a bicycle].
1911. Daily Mail, 19 June, 8/4. Major Wodehouse … has been … devising means for the safe steering of the tremendous crowds.
2. Short for steering-gear.
1877. H. H. Griffin, Bicycles of the Year, 12. He makes the Eureka, which is a very fair machine (Spider), Stanley steering, cone bearings, &c. Ibid., 16. The steering is either the Stanley or Rudder plan.
3. attrib. and Comb.: a. simple attrib., as steering-apparatus, -fan, -fork, -gear, -handle.
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 319. A *Steering Apparatus … consists of an endless screw [etc.].
1903. Westm. Gaz., 2 Nov., 9/1. There is a propeller in front and a *steering-fan in the rear [of an airship].
1869. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 375. The vertical *steering-fork of the vehicle [i.e., a bicycle].
1869. Sir E. Reed, Iron-Clad Ships, i. 6. The rudder-head and *steering-gear were exposed to shot within thin iron sides.
1907. H. Wyndham, Flare of Footlights, ii. The chauffeur … fumbling stupidly with the steering-gear.
1868. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 477. The *Steering-Handle [of a bicycle] may be made of any fancy curve.
1906. Westm. Gaz., 20 July, 8/3. In the collision … the stout steering-handle [of a motor-car] being bent nearly double.
b. Special comb.: steering compass, the compass by which a ship is steered as distinguished from the variation compass (see COMPASS sb.1 12); steering-lock (a) the turning movement of the wheels of a motor-vehicle (see LOCK sb.2 15); (b) an appliance fitted to some bicycles by means of which the front wheel may be prevented from turning from side to side; steering-oar, an oar used as a steering-scull (q.v.); steering sail Naut. = STUDDING SAIL; also attrib.; † steering scull = SCULL sb.1 1 a; steering-wheel (a) Naut., a vertical wheel by which motion is communicated to the rudder through the medium of a tiller-rope or other device; (b) a hand-wheel for guiding a traction engine, motor-car or other heavy vehicle; (c) the wheel of a cycle by which steerage is effected.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., II. vi. 67. To shew you the difference between the true Compass and the *Steering Compass.
1897. Encycl. Sport, I. 274/1. (Cycling), *Steering Locks are valuable … for preventing the machine from moving when resting against a wall.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, ix. The officer using his utmost strength, with his *steering-oar, to keep her stern on.
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 16. The Lee *steering Sails of Main-sail, and Main-top sail.
1805. in Nicolas, Disp. Nelson (1846), VII. 144, note. Wore Ship and made Sail—set the royal and top-gallant steering-sails.
1420. in For. Acc. 3 Hen. VI., F/2. j. Remus grossus vocatus *Sterynge skulle.
1750. Blanckley, Naval Expos., 160. To guide or govern a Ship by the Helm or *Steering Wheel.
1888. Encycl. Brit., XXIII. 559/2. In early days the steering wheel [of the tricycle] was made small to save weight.
