Steer

Steer (stēr) , noun

[Old English steer, Anglo-Saxon steór; akin to Dutch & German stier a bull, Old High German stior, Icelandic stjōrr, þjōrr, Swedish tjur, Danish tyr, Gothic stiur, Russ. tur', Pol. tur, Ir. & Gael. tarbh, Welsh tarw, Latin taurus, Greek tay^ros, Sanskrit sthūra strong, stout, Anglo-Saxon stor large, Icelandic stōrr, Old High German stūri, stiuri. r168. Compare 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 , transitive verb

To castrate; -- said of male calves.

Steer (stērd) , transitive verb

[Old English steeren, steren, Anglo-Saxon stiéran, stȳran, steóran; akin to OFries. stiora, stiura, Dutch sturen, OD. stieren, German steuern, Old High German stiuren to direct, support, German steuer contribution, tax, Icelandic stȳra to steer, govern, Swedish styra, Danish styre, Gothic stiurjan to establish, Anglo-Saxon steór a rudder, a helm, and probably to Icelandic staurr a pale, stake, Greek stayro`s, and perhaps ultimately to English stand. r168. Compare 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 , intransitive verb

To direct a vessel in its course; to direct one's course.

No helmsman steers. — Tennyson

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

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

Steer , noun

[Anglo-Saxon steór, stiór; akin to Dutch stuur, German steuer, Icelandic stȳri. r168. See Steer, transitive verb]

A rudder or helm. [Obsolete] — Chaucer

Steer , noun

[Anglo-Saxon steóra. See Steer a rudder.]

A helmsman; a pilot. [Obsolete] — Chaucer