Stern /(?)/
Stern
n.
- The black tern. (Zool.)
Stern
a.
-
Having a certain hardness or severity of nature, manner, or aspect; hard; severe; rigid; rigorous; austere; fixed; unchanging; unrelenting; hence, serious; resolute; harsh; as, a sternresolve; a stern necessity; a stern heart; a stern gaze; a stern decree.
The sterne wind so loud gan to rout.
I would outstare the sternest eyes that look.
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Stern as tutors, and as uncles hard.
These barren rocks, your stern inheritance.
Stern
n.
- The helm or tiller of a vessel or boat; also, the rudder. [Obs.]
- The after or rear end of a ship or other vessel, or of a boat; the part opposite to the stem, or prow. (Naut.)
-
Fig.: The post of management or direction.
And sit chiefest stern of public weal.
- The hinder part of anything.
- The tail of an animal; -- now used only of the tail of a dog.
Phrases & Compounds
- By the stern
- See By the head, under By.
Stern
a.
- Being in the stern, or being astern; as, the stern davits.
Phrases & Compounds
- Stern board
- a going or falling astern; a loss of way in making a tack; as, to make a stern board. See Board, n., 8 (b).
- Stern chase
- See under Chase, n.
- Stern chaser
- a cannon placed in a ship's stern, pointing backward, and intended to annoy a ship that is in pursuit.
- Stern fast
- a rope used to confine the stern of a ship or other vessel, as to a wharf or buoy.
- Stern frame
- the framework of timber forms the stern of a ship.
- Stern knee
- See Sternson.
- Stern port
- a port, or opening, in the stern of a ship.
- Stern sheets
- that part of an open boat which is between the stern and the aftmost seat of the rowers, -- usually furnished with seats for passengers.
- Stern wheel
- a paddle wheel attached to the stern of the steamboat which it propels.