'Steerage' definitions:

Definition of 'steerage'

noun

The cheapest accommodations on a passenger ship

noun

The act of steering a ship [syn: steering, steerage]

From: GCIDE

Steerage \Steer"age\ (st[=e]r"[asl]j; 48), n.
1. The act or practice of steering, or directing; as, the steerage of a ship. [1913 Webster]
He left the city, and, in a most tempestuous season, forsook the helm and steerage of the commonwealth. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. (Naut.) (a) The effect of the helm on a ship; the manner in which an individual ship is affected by the helm. (b) The hinder part of a vessel; the stern. [R.] --Swift. (c) Properly, the space in the after part of a vessel, under the cabin, but used generally to indicate any part of a vessel having the poorest accommodations and occupied by passengers paying the lowest rate of fare. [1913 Webster]
3. Direction; regulation; management; guidance. [1913 Webster]
He that hath the steerage of my course. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. That by which a course is directed. [R.] [1913 Webster]
Here he hung on high, The steerage of his wings. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Steerage passenger, a passenger who takes passage in the steerage of a vessel. [1913 Webster]