STERN

n. 1 the rear part of a ship or boat. 2 any rear part. østern foremost moving backwards. stern on with the stern presented. stern-post the central upright support at the stern, usu. bearing the rudder. øøsterned adj. (also in comb.). sternmost adj. sternward adj. & adv. sternwards adv. [ME prob. f. ON stj×rn steering f. st°ra STEER(1)]