tiller

1 of 4

noun (1)

till·​er ˈti-lər How to pronounce tiller (audio)
: one that tills : cultivator

tiller

2 of 4

noun (2)

til·​ler ˈti-lər How to pronounce tiller (audio)
: a lever used to turn the rudder of a boat from side to side
broadly : a device or system that plays a part in steering something

tiller

3 of 4

noun (3)

til·​ler ˈti-lər How to pronounce tiller (audio)
: stalk, sprout
especially : one from the base of a plant or from the axils of its lower leaves

tiller

4 of 4

verb

til·​ler ˈti-lər How to pronounce tiller (audio)
tillered; tillering ˈti-lə-riŋ How to pronounce tiller (audio)
ˈtil-riŋ

intransitive verb

of a plant
: to put forth tillers

Examples of tiller in a Sentence

Noun (1) in his paintings farmers are invariably depicted as brawny yet noble tillers of the land
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
That rod moves a connected tiller in the rear, which in turn swivels the motor/prop pod to the left or right. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2024 Buyers will be able to select from several options to better tailor the motor to their boat, including tiller steer and center console control systems, short and long shaft configurations, and various propellers. New Atlas, 23 July 2024
Verb
Continue tillering until the bow can be drawn far enough to shoot an arrow half as long as the bow (with most woods, this will be a 35- to 55-pound pull). Keith McCafferty, Field & Stream, 29 June 2023 Large crabgrass can spread rapidly by tillering or from sprouts at the base of the plant, which rapidly increases the width of the crabgrass clump. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for tiller 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English teler, tiller stock of a crossbow, tiller, from Anglo-French teiler stock of a crossbow

Noun (3)

Middle English *tiller, from Old English telgor, telgra twig, shoot; akin to Old High German zelga twig, Old Irish dlongaid he splits

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1677, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tiller was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near tiller

Cite this Entry

“Tiller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiller. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tiller

1 of 2 noun
till·​er
ˈtil-ər
: a person who tills
also : cultivator

tiller

2 of 2 noun
til·​ler
ˈtil-ər
: a lever used to turn the rudder of a boat from side to side

More from Merriam-Webster on tiller

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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