Quick Definition
πηδάλιον, ου, τό n.n. the rudder of a ship
Strong's Definition
neuter of a (presumed) derivative of pedon (the blade of an oar; from the same as 3976); a "pedal", i.e. helm
KJV Usage: rudder
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ου
6.50 · Artifacts · Boats and Parts of Boats
rudder a large plank at the stern of a ship used to direct its course For some ships the rudder may have been simply a large steering paddle. For languages which have no technical term, a rudder may be described as ‘an instrument for steering the ship’ or ‘an instrument for making the ship go the way one wants it to go.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
πηδάλιον, -ου, τό, (fr. πηδόν the blade of an oar, an TiKpaives oar), fr. Hom. down, aship’s rudder: Acts xxvii. 40 [on the plur. see Smith, Voy. and Shipwreck of St. Paul, 4th ed., p. 183 sqq.; B.D.s.v. Ship (2); ef. Graser, Das Seewesen des Alterthums, in the Philologus for 1865, Ρ. 266 sq.]; Jas. iii. 4.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
πηδάλιον pēdalion 2x
a rudder, Acts 27:40; Jas. 3:4*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
* πηδάλιον, -ου, τό
(< πηδός, the blade of an oar),
a rudder: Ja 3:4; pl., Ac 27:40.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
πηδάλιον, “‘rudder’’: P Oxy XIV. 1650" (freight account—i/1i A.D.) πηδαλίου (Sp.) vd (τετρώβολον), ‘rudder 14 dr. 4 ob.,” 76. XII. 14491 (return of temple property—a.D. 213-17) πηδάλ(ιον) τῆς [Newr(épas) ἢ, ‘Sa rudder representing Neotera” (Edd.), and for the plur., as in Ac 27°, P Lond 1164(2)8 (A.D. 212) (=ITI. p. 164) σὺν... πηδαλίοις δυσί, “*with two rudders ’’ (said of a boat).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
πηδάλιον (pēdalion) — rudder. πηδάλι-ον [ᾰ], τό, (πηδόν) steering-paddle, rudder, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. δὲ ἓν ποιεῦνται (i.e. Αἰγύπτιοι) καὶ τοῦτο διὰ τῆς τρόπιος διαβύνεται [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Greek ships had a pair, hence in plural, of a single ship, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πηδάλια ζεύγλαισι (cross-bars) παρακαθίετο [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀνέντες τὰς ζευκτηρίας τῶν π. [NT]; πηδάλια εἶχε τέτταρα τριακονταπήχη, of the τεσσαρακοντήρης of Ptolemy IV, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] to retire from a seafaring life, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. metaphorically, ἱππικὰ π., of reins, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. in plural, of the oars by which the nautilus is said to steer himself, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the long hind legs of the locust and grasshopper, [Refs]
III. ={πολύγονον ἄρρεν}, Ps.-[Refs 1st c.AD+]