steerageway
nounUK /ˈstɪə.ɹɪd͡ʒˌweɪ/ · US /ˈstiɹɪd͡ʒˌweɪ/
Etymology From steerage + way.
1
Nautical, Transport The minimum speed of a ship, below which it does not answer the helm and cannot be steered.
- The latter made one tremendous spurt, then gave up in despair and hauled in his oars. French Pete let go the main-sheet, lost steerageway as he rounded up alongside the motionless skiff, and dragged Joe out.1902, Jack London, “chapter XII”, in The Cruise of the Dazzler: