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Glite Dictionary
stern chaser

stern chaser

1 9.9
A gun at the back of a ship used to fire at a chasing ship
  • noun
  • /stɜrn ˈtʃeɪsər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : cañón de popa
  • Old naval vessels were equipped with both bow and stern chasers to defend against attackers.

Examples

  • During the sea battle, the captain ordered the crew to man the stern chaser as the enemy closed in from behind.

  • The ship was equipped with a powerful stern chaser.

  • The ship's stern chaser was ready to fire at the approaching frigate.

  • During the battle, our stern chaser fired at the enemy.

  • The battleship's stern chaser was ready to defend against the attacking fleet.

  • The commander ordered the crew to prepare the stern chaser as the enemy ship closed in.

  • During the naval skirmish, the stern chaser successfully struck the pursuing vessel from behind.

Synonyms

naval gun
vsstern chaser
  • Specialized
6.8

A large gun on a navy ship used to fire at enemy ships or planes

is narrower fixed at the rear and aimed at pursuing enemy ships

Surface Forms

stern chaser singular
stern chasers plural

Morphology

stern + chaser

The compound combines 'stern' (rear of a ship) with 'chaser' (one that pursues), so a learner who knows both words can infer something at the ship's stern related to pursuing or attacking a pursuer. However, the specific sense 'a gun mounted at the stern' requires domain knowledge or extending 'chaser' from 'pursuer' to 'weapon used for pursuit', so the connection is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Stern chaser comes from old sailing ships. Stern is the back of the ship and a chaser was a gun used to fire at a ship behind you, so the term means 'a rear-facing gun used against a pursuer'.