tiller

1
[ til-er ]
/ ˈtɪl ər /

noun

a person who tills; farmer.
a person or thing that tills; cultivator.

Origin of tiller

1
First recorded in 1200–50, tiller is from the Middle English word tiliere. See till2, -er1

Definition for tiller (2 of 3)

tiller 2
[ til-er ]
/ ˈtɪl ər /

noun Nautical.

a bar or lever fitted to the head of a rudder, for turning the rudder in steering.

Origin of tiller

2
1375–1425; late Middle English < Anglo-French teiler weaver's beam; Old French teilier < Medieval Latin tēlārium, equivalent to Latin tēl(a) warp + -ārium -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM tiller

till·er·less, adjective

Definition for tiller (3 of 3)

tiller 3
[ til-er ]
/ ˈtɪl ər /

noun

a plant shoot that springs from the root or bottom of the original stalk.
a sapling.

verb (used without object)

(of a plant) to put forth new shoots from the root or around the bottom of the original stalk.

Origin of tiller

3
before 1000; Old English telgor twig, shoot (not recorded in ME); akin to telge rod, Old Norse tjalga branch, telgja to cut

Example sentences from the Web for tiller

British Dictionary definitions for tiller (1 of 2)

tiller 1
/ (ˈtɪlə) /

noun

nautical a handle fixed to the top of a rudderpost to serve as a lever in steering it

Derived forms of tiller

tillerless, adjective

Word Origin for tiller

C14: from Anglo-French teiler beam of a loom, from Medieval Latin tēlārium, from Latin tēla web

British Dictionary definitions for tiller (2 of 2)

tiller 2
/ (ˈtɪlə) /

noun

a shoot that arises from the base of the stem in grasses
a less common name for sapling

verb

(intr) (of a plant) to produce tillers

Word Origin for tiller

Old English telgor twig; related to Icelandic tjalga branch