Stern \Stern\, a. [Compar. Sterner; superl. Sternest.]

[OE. sterne, sturne, AS. styrne; cf. D. stuurish stern, Sw. stursk refractory. [root]166.]

Having a certain hardness or severity of nature, manner, or aspect; hard; severe; rigid; rigorous; austere; fixed; unchanging; unrelenting; hence, serious; resolute; harsh; as, a sternresolve; a stern necessity; a stern heart; a stern gaze; a stern decree.

The sterne wind so loud gan to rout. --Chaucer.

I would outstare the sternest eyes that look. --Shak.

When that the poor have cried, C[ae]sar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff. --Shak.

Stern as tutors, and as uncles hard. --Dryden.

These barren rocks, your stern inheritance. --Wordsworth.

Syn: Gloomy; sullen; forbidding; strict; unkind; hard-hearted; unfeeling; cruel; pitiless.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Stern \Stern\, n. [AS. stearn a kind of bird. See Starling.]

(Zo["o]l.) The black tern.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Stern \Stern\, n. [Icel. stj[=o]rn a steering, or a doubtful AS. ste['o]rn. [root]166. See Steer, v. t.]

1. The helm or tiller of a vessel or boat; also, the rudder. [Obs.]

--Chaucer.

2. (Naut.) The after or rear end of a ship or other vessel, or of a boat; the part opposite to the stem, or prow.

3. Fig.: The post of management or direction.

And sit chiefest stern of public weal. --Shak.

4. The hinder part of anything. --Spenser.

5. The tail of an animal; -- now used only of the tail of a dog.

By the stern. (Naut.) See By the head, under By.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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.)
   (a) See under Chase, n.
   (b) 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)