stern-chasern.
Nautical.
1.
a. A gun belonging to the stern-chase n. (sense 2).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > hostilities at sea > naval weapons and equipment > [noun] > ship's guns collectively > gun in specific position
nosepiecea1614
stern-piece1622
chase-piece1626
rakera1640
chase-gun1667
bow-chase1769
chaser1804
stern-chaser1815
top gun1816
bow-chaser1836
1815 W. Scott Guy Mannering I. ix. 134 They saw a lugger..closely pursued by a sloop of war, that kept firing upon the chase from her bows, which the lugger returned with her stern-chasers.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log II. iv. 160 He worked his two stern chasers with great determination.
b. jocularly. A firearm discharged at a pursuer.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > [noun] > type of firearm > others
full bore1622
spingard1671
ordered armsa1689
double-barrel1811
smooth-bore1812
stern-chaser1835
shunt1864
shunt (rifled) gun1864
sidelocka1865
firer1885
slide action1921
Mike-Mike1969
multicalibre1986
1835 W. Irving Tour on Prairies xxx. 283 The worthy Commissioner..drew his sole pistol from his holster, fired it off as a stern-chaser, shot the buffalo full in the breast, [etc.].
2. The hindmost vessel in a race.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > pleasure vessel > [noun] > racing boat > hindmost vessel in race
stern-chaser1883
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > boat racing or race > [noun] > hindmost vessel in race
stern-chaser1883
1883 Times 27 Aug. 8/2 The Lorna [yacht]..was weathered again by the little craft and was sternchaser.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1916; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1815