ˈstern-ˌchaser Naut.
1. A gun belonging to the stern-chase (sense 2).
| 1815 Scott Guy M. ix, 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 xv. (1842) 380 He worked his two stern chasers with great determination. |
b. jocularly. A firearm discharged at a pursuer.
| 1835 W. Irving Tour 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.
| 1883 Times 27 Aug. 8/2 The Lorna [yacht]..was weathered again by the little craft and was sternchaser. |