joystick
n.n. a small handle that you move to control the movement of a computer game or a plane. It is shaped like a stick and has buttons for extra control.
n. a control device consisting of a lever that can be moved in various directions to control the movement of a cursor or the direction of a vehicle. Often used in the context of flight simulation or video gaming.
He moved the joystick to steer the plane.
The pilot adjusted the joystick slightly to maintain a steady altitude during the landing approach.
While modern flight simulators use sophisticated digital interfaces, many enthusiasts still prefer the tactile feedback of a physical joystick to replicate the mechanical resistance of a real aircraft's controls.
From joy + stick. First attested around 1910 (as joy-stick) as the control stick on an airplane. Its relation to the word joy is unclear.