Webster's English Dictionary

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rudder

rud.der \'r*d-*r\ n [ME rother, fr. OE ro-ther paddle; akin to OE ro-wan 
   to] row 1a: a flat piece or structure of wood or metal attached upright to 
   a ship's  stern so that it can be turned causing the ship's head to turn in 
   the same direction 1b: a movable auxiliary airfoil usu. attached at the 
   rear end that serves t o control direction of flight of an airplane in the 
   horizontal plane 2: GUIDE, GOVERNOR