a. Obs. [OE. stéorléas: see STEER sb.2 and -LESS.]
1. Not amenable to guidance or control, ungovernable, unrestrained.
c. 888. Ælfred, Boeth., v. § 3. Þa ðu wendest ðætte stiorlease men & recelease wæren ʓesælie & wealdendas þisse worulde.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 117. Gif þu uuel were iwend þe from uuele þi les þe ðu steorles losie on ende.
2. Without a rudder. lit. and fig.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 416. Al sterles with-Inne a bot am I. Ibid. (c. 1386), Man of Law’s T., 341. In a ship all steerelees.
1423. James I., Kingis Q., 15. As the schip that sailith stereles Vpon the rok(kis) most to harmes hye.
a. 1547. Surrey, Eccles. iii. 1. Like to the stereles boote that swerues with euery wynde.
a. 1565. in Q. Eliz. Boeth., App. 156. We men, with Fortunes waves are tosste and cast In steerles Shipp.
a. 1639. T. Carew, Answ. Eleg. Lett., 62. A troope of deities came down to guide Our steerelesse barkes.
