stern chase

Stern \Stern\, a.
   Being in the stern, or being astern; as, the stern davits.
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   {Stern board} (Naut.), 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}. (Naut.)
   (a) See under {Chase}, n.
   (b) A stern chaser.

   {Stern chaser} (Naut.), a cannon placed in a ship's stern,
      pointing backward, and intended to annoy a ship that is in
      pursuit.

   {Stern fast} (Naut.), a rope used to confine the stern of a
      ship or other vessel, as to a wharf or buoy.

   {Stern frame} (Naut.), the framework of timber forms the
      stern of a ship.

   {Stern knee}. See {Sternson}.

   {Stern port} (Naut.), a port, or opening, in the stern of a
      ship.

   {Stern sheets} (Naut.), 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.
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Chase \Chase\, n. [Cf. F. chasse, fr. chasser. See {Chase}, v.]
   1. Vehement pursuit for the purpose of killing or capturing,
      as of an enemy, or game; an earnest seeking after any
      object greatly desired; the act or habit of hunting; a
      hunt. "This mad chase of fame." --Dryden.
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            You see this chase is hotly followed. --Shak.
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   2. That which is pursued or hunted.
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            Nay, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase,
            For I myself must hunt this deer to death. --Shak.
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   3. An open hunting ground to which game resorts, and which is
      private properly, thus differing from a forest, which is
      not private property, and from a park, which is inclosed.
      Sometimes written chace. [Eng.]
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   4. (Court Tennis) A division of the floor of a gallery,
      marked by a figure or otherwise; the spot where a ball
      falls, and between which and the dedans the adversary must
      drive his ball in order to gain a point.
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   {Chase gun} (Naut.), a cannon placed at the bow or stern of
      an armed vessel, and used when pursuing an enemy, or in
      defending the vessel when pursued.

   {Chase port} (Naut.), a porthole from which a chase gun is
      fired.

   {Stern chase} (Naut.), a chase in which the pursuing vessel
      follows directly in the wake of the vessel pursued.

   {cut to the chase} (Film), a term used in action movies
      meaning, to shift the scene to the most exciting part,
      where someone is being chased. It is used metaphorically
      to mean "get to the main point".
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