The Collaborative International Dictionary
Chase \Chase\, n. [Cf. F. chasse, fr. chasser. See Chase, v.]
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Vehement pursuit for the purpose of killing or capturing, as of an enemy, or game; an earnest seeking after any object greatly desired; the act or habit of hunting; a hunt. ``This mad chase of fame.''
--Dryden.You see this chase is hotly followed.
--Shak. -
That which is pursued or hunted.
Nay, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase, For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
--Shak. An open hunting ground to which game resorts, and which is private properly, thus differing from a forest, which is not private property, and from a park, which is inclosed. Sometimes written chace. [Eng.]
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(Court Tennis) A division of the floor of a gallery, marked by a figure or otherwise; the spot where a ball falls, and between which and the dedans the adversary must drive his ball in order to gain a point.
Chase gun (Naut.), a cannon placed at the bow or stern of an armed vessel, and used when pursuing an enemy, or in defending the vessel when pursued.
Chase port (Naut.), a porthole from which a chase gun is fired.
Stern chase (Naut.), a chase in which the pursuing vessel follows directly in the wake of the vessel pursued.
cut to the chase (Film), a term used in action movies meaning, to shift the scene to the most exciting part, where someone is being chased. It is used metaphorically to mean ``get to the main point''.
Wiktionary
n. (context nautical English) a hole cut in the bow of a ship through which a chase gun could fire directly ahead