STEERSMAN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does steersman mean? 

• STEERSMAN (noun)
  The noun STEERSMAN has 1 sense:

1. the person who steers a ship

  Familiarity information: STEERSMAN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STEERSMAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The person who steers a ship

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

helmsman; steerer; steersman

Hypernyms ("steersman" is a kind of...):

gob; Jack; Jack-tar; mariner; old salt; sea dog; seafarer; seaman; tar (a man who serves as a sailor)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "steersman"):

cox; coxswain (the helmsman of a ship's boat or a racing crew)

 Context examples 

All the way in, Long John stood by the steersman and conned the ship.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The steersman smiled, and pointed with his foot to where a short heavy cross-bow quarrel stuck quivering in the boards.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Retired worn out; slept soundly; awaked by mate telling me that both man of watch and steersman missing. Only self and mate and two hands left to work ship.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

When the time comes I will describe that wondrous moonlit night upon the great lake when a young ichthyosaurus—a strange creature, half seal, half fish, to look at, with bone-covered eyes on each side of his snout, and a third eye fixed upon the top of his head—was entangled in an Indian net, and nearly upset our canoe before we towed it ashore; the same night that a green water-snake shot out from the rushes and carried off in its coils the steersman of Challenger's canoe.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Another tragedy. Had single watch to-night, as crew too tired to double. When morning watch came on deck could find no one except steersman. Raised outcry, and all came on deck. Thorough search, but no one found. Are now without second mate, and crew in a panic. Mate and I agreed to go armed henceforth and wait for any sign of cause.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It is needless to say that the dead steersman has been reverently removed from the place where he held his honourable watch and ward till death—a steadfastness as noble as that of the young Casabianca—and placed in the mortuary to await inquest.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)