Stern-chase(r) : The cannons which are placed in the after-part of a ship's gun-room, pointing a-stern, and intended to strike any ship which chases her, or other object in her rear
William Falconer's Dictionary of the Marine, Glossary, Published by South Seas using the Web Academic Resource Publisher, London 1780. (http://threedecks.org/index.php?display_type=glos sary, (Mrtm - Brit) {583}