subs. (colloquial).—The backside; THE BUM (q.v.). Hence STERN-FOREMOST = backwards, arse-first; ASTERN = behind; STERN-UPPERMOST = on one’s face; STERN-CHASE = a pursuit; STERN-CHASER = a sodomite.
1590. SPENSER, The Fairie Queene, I. xi. 8. He … gan his sturdy STERNE about to weld.
1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log. Steer clear of the stem of a sailing ship, … Or the STERN of a kicking horse, Tom.
1868. FURNIVALL [Book of Precedence (E.E.T.S.), Forewords, xxiii.]. We don’t want to deceive ourselves about them, or fancy them cherubs without STERNS.
1902. Athenæum, 8 Feb., 176, 3. He was taught nothing, except that jumping to any word of command saved his bows from cuffing, his STERN from kicking.
TO BRING A SHIP DOWN BY THE STERN, verb. phr. (nautical).—To over officer.
1835. R. H. DANA, Jr., Two Years Before the Mast, xiv. We had now four officers, and only six in the forecastle. This was BRINGING HER too much DOWN BY THE STERN for our comfort.
