Till″er, n. [From OE. tillen, tullen, to draw, pull; probably fr. AS. tyllan in fortyllan to lead astray; or cf. D. tillen to lift up. Cf. Till a drawer.] 1. (Naut.) A lever of wood or metal fitted to the rudder head and used for turning side to side in steering. In small boats hand power is used; in large vessels, the tiller is moved by means of mechanical appliances. See Illust. of Rudder. Cf. 2d Helm, 1.
2. The stalk, or handle, of a crossbow; also, sometimes, the bow itself.
You can shoot in a tiller. Beau. & Fl.
3. The handle of anything.
4. A small drawer; a till. Dryden.
Tiller rope(Naut.), a rope for turning a tiller. In a large vessel it forms the connection between the fore end of the tiller and the steering wheel.