(n) :
an underwater
vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a
wheel,
tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a
joystick or an
autopilot); a
control surface on the
vertical stabilizer of a fixed-wing aircraft or an
autogyro. On some craft, the entire vertical stabilizer comprises the rudder. The rudder is controlled by foot-operated control
pedals