First recorded in 1805–15
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At eight o'clock the "Wasp" had gained so rapidly upon the chase, that the latter began firing with her stern chaser, and soon after opened with one of her lee guns.
From The Naval History of the United States Volume 2 by Jackson, W. C.
I want you to make ready our stern chaser.
From Ralph Granger's Fortunes by Brown, William Perry
"I see you were just getting out a stern chaser," and he pointed to the gun.
From With Wolfe in Canada The Winning of a Continent by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
They feared he had made up his mind to run, and this gun was to be used as a stern-chaser.
From The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2 by Headley, Joel Tyler
She was a little larger than the James in length and beam, but had carried no armament other than the now damaged stern-chaser.
From The Black Buccaneer by Meader, Stephen W. (Stephen Warren)
The captain's cabin of the Ruffling Harry was in a deck-house upon the poop, and a stern-chaser gun was mounted at the back of it.
From The Green Flag by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir
“Cast loose the stern-chaser, Jean Lafitte,” said I: “and do you and L’Olonnois load and fire her often as you like until we land; or until you burst her.”
From The Lady and the Pirate Being the Plain Tale of a Diligent Pirate and a Fair Captive by Mathes, Harry A.
So down he went to the cabin, and up he came again to find Mr. Job with his best coat-tails spread, seated on the carriage of the Pride's stern-chaser.
From The White Wolf and Other Fireside Tales by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
