from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Tiller \Till"er\, n. [From OE. tillen, tullen, to draw, pull;
probably fr. AS. tyllan in fortyllan to lead astray; or cf.
D. tillen to lift up. Cf. {Till} a drawer.]
1. (Naut.) A lever of wood or metal fitted to the rudder head
and used for turning side to side in steering. In small
boats hand power is used; in large vessels, the tiller is
moved by means of mechanical appliances. See Illust. of
{Rudder}. Cf. 2d {Helm}, 1.
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2. The stalk, or handle, of a crossbow; also, sometimes, the
bow itself. [Obs.]
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You can shoot in a tiller. --Beau. & Fl.
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3. The handle of anything. [Prov. Eng.]
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4. A small drawer; a till. --Dryden.
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{Tiller rope} (Naut.), a rope for turning a tiller. In a
large vessel it forms the connection between the fore end
of the tiller and the steering wheel.
[1913 Webster] Tilley