Jump To:

• stern chaser
  stern chaser

  noun

  a cannon mounted at or near the stern of a sailing ship, facing aft.
• stern-chaser
  stern-chaser

  noun

  a gun mounted at the stern of a vessel for firing aft at a pursuing vessel

stern chaser

American  

noun

1. a cannon mounted at or near the stern of a sailing ship, facing aft.

---

stern-chaser British  

noun

1. a gun mounted at the stern of a vessel for firing aft at a pursuing vessel

---

Etymology

Origin of stern chaser

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stern chaser stern-chaser

"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)

I want you to make ready our stern chaser.

From Ralph Granger's Fortunes by Brown, William Perry

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.

Burrows, whose character was unknown to them, intended to avoid the enemy, and was rigging the long gun for a stern-chaser.

From The Naval History of the United States Volume 2 by Jackson, W. C.

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)

Let Tompion see what he can do with the stern-chaser, in the way of knocking away some of the fellow’s spars.

From Under the Meteor Flag Log of a Midshipman during the French Revolutionary War by Collingwood, Harry

Talbot, anxious to do something, suggested the novel expedient of breaking out a field-piece from the fore hold and mounting it on the quarter-deck to use as a stern-chaser.

From For Love of Country A Story of Land and Sea in the Days of the Revolution by Brady, Cyrus Townsend

My father casting about, as the chase progressed, to put us on better terms of defence, suggested unlashing this gun and running her aft for a stern-chaser.

From Sir John Constantine Memoirs of His Adventures At Home and Abroad and Particularly in the Island of Corsica: Beginning with the Year 1756 by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir