The nautical term for a ship's steering mechanism. Greek ships typically had a pair of side rudders (steering paddles) rather than a single stern rudder. In Acts 27:40, sailors 'loosed the rudder bands' to steer toward shore during Paul's shipwreck. James 3:4 uses it metaphorically: though ships are large and driven by strong winds, 'a very small rudder' guides wherever the pilot wishes—so too the tongue, tiny yet powerful, steers the whole person. Ancient ships used long oars or paddles at the stern for steering.