I'm reading R.H.Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast". He says he had to sleep in the "steerage". I don't see how that space was given its name, as I see no connection to the actual steering of the ship. Etymology doesn't help.
steer (v.) - "guide the course of a vehicle," O.E. steran (Mercian), stieran (W.Saxon), from P.Gmc. *steurijanan, probably from *steuro "rudder" (source of O.E. steor "helm, rudder"). Steerage (1399) was the steering apparatus of a ship before the introduction of the deck wheel; meaning "section of a ship with the cheapest accommodations" first recorded 1804
The furthest aft portion of sailing ships, where the steering apparatus was located belonged exclusively to the officers. The crew were restricted to spaces "before the mast."
Who can explain this to me?