governail
That which steers a nautical vessel; a rudder or a person employing it.
archaic
We immediately threw out all the little things we had with us, ſuch as biſcuits, apples, &c. and after that one of our oars or wings; but ſtill deſcending, we caſt away the other wing, and then the governail ; having likewiſe had the precaution, for fear of accidents, while the Balloon was filling, partly to looſen and make it go eaſy, I now ſucceeded in attempting to reach without the Car, and unſcrewing the moulinet, with all its apparatus; I likewiſe caſt that into the ſea.
Where it comes from
From Middle English governail, governaile from Middle French and Old French governail, from Latin gubernāculum. Doublet of gubernaculum.
Adapted from the Wiktionary entry governail (CC BY-SA 4.0).