† steerlessadj.
Obsolete.
1. Not amenable to guidance or control, ungovernable, unrestrained.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > unruliness > [adjective] > uncontrollable or ungovernable
steerlessc888
rebelc1400
untemperable?1571
effrenated1587
incontrollable1605
unrepressable1607
commandless1609
unmasterable1618
masterless1619
effrenable1621
uncontrollable1648
unrulable1672
ungovernable1673
governless1679
unrepressible1776
incoercible1804
irrepressible1811
bronco1866
intemperable1898
c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. v. §3 Þa ðu wendest ðætte stiorlease men & recelease wæren gesælie & wealdendas þisse worulde.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 117 Gif þu uuel were iwend þe from uuele þi les þe ðu steorles losie on ende.
2. Without a rudder. literal and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel of specific construction or shape > [adjective] > having or not having rudder or tiller
steerlessc1374
sternlessc1412
rudderless1606
unruddered1687
ruddered1794
tillerless1870
c1374 G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde i. 416 Al sterles with-Inne a bot am I.
c1386 G. Chaucer Man of Law's Tale 341 In a ship all steerelees.
1423 Kingis Quair 15 As the schip that sailith stereles Vpon the rok(kis) most to harmes hye.
a1547 Earl of Surrey Poems (1964) 92 Like to the stereles boote that swerves with every wynde.
a1565 in Q. Eliz. Boeth. App. 156 We men, with Fortunes waves are tosste and cast In steerles Shipp.
1640 T. Carew Poems 128 A troope of Deities came downe to guide Our steerelesse barkes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.c888