The spelling of the word "steerage" is a bit confusing. It's easy to mistake it for "storage" or "stirred." However, the correct pronunciation is /ˈstɪərɪdʒ/, with the stress on the first syllable. The "ea" combination is pronounced as a long "e" sound, while the "g" is pronounced as a soft "j" sound. "Steerage" refers to the lower section of a ship where passengers with lower-class tickets would be accommodated. Despite its unconventional spelling, "steerage" remains a common English word to this day.
Steerage refers to the area on a ship that is assigned to accommodate passengers who have purchased the cheapest or lowest-class tickets. In the context of maritime travel, steerage is typically the most basic and overcrowded section, located in the lower decks or hull of the ship. Historically, this term gained prominence in the 19th and early 20th centuries when large waves of immigrants were transported to new lands via passenger ships.
As a noun, steerage can also refer to the act or process of steering or guiding a ship. This definition is derived from the verb form of steer, which means to direct the course of a ship, vehicle, or even a conversation. It is in this sense that steerage can also be employed to denote the control or manipulation of a situation or event.
Beyond its maritime and navigational connotations, steerage can also describe the manner in which something or someone is guided or managed. For example, in a figurative sense, a company's executives might be said to provide steerage for the company's strategic direction.
Overall, the term steerage encompasses multiple meanings, ranging from the physical accommodations provided to passengers on a ship to the act of guiding or directing a vessel or situation.
The steering of a ship; the manner in which a ship answers to the helm; the fore part of a ship, and the cabin there situated, for passengers paying a lower rate of fares.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "steerage" is derived from the verb "steer", which comes from the Old English word "stieran" meaning "to guide" or "to govern". The suffix "-age" is derived from Old French and typically denotes an action or condition. Therefore, "steerage" originally referred to the act or process of steering or guiding a ship. Over time, it specifically came to refer to the lower deck or section of a ship where passengers with the cheapest accommodations were housed, as the steerage passengers were considered to be under the control or governance of the ship's crew.