What is "stern chase"

Stern \Stern\, a. Being in the stern, or being astern; as, the stern davits. Stern board (Naut.), a going or falling astern; a loss of way in making a tack; as, to make a stern board. See Board, n., 8 (b) . Stern chase. (Naut.)

1. See under Chase, n.

2. A stern chaser.

   Stern chaser (Naut.), a cannon placed in a ship's stern, pointing backward, and intended to annoy a ship that is in pursuit.

   Stern fast (Naut.), a rope used to confine the stern of a ship or other vessel, as to a wharf or buoy.

   Stern frame (Naut.), the framework of timber forms the stern of a ship.

   Stern knee. See Sternson.

   Stern port (Naut.), a port, or opening, in the stern of a ship.

   Stern sheets (Naut.), that part of an open boat which is between the stern and the aftmost seat of the rowers, -- usually furnished with seats for passengers.

   Stern wheel, a paddle wheel attached to the stern of the steamboat which it propels.

Chase \Chase\, n. [Cf. F. chasse, fr. chasser. See Chase, v.]

1. 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.

2. That which is pursued or hunted.

   Nay, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase, For I myself must hunt this deer to death.
   --Shak.

3. 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.]

4. (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''.