chase, to

The Sailor's Word-Book

To pursue a ship, which is also called giving chase.


♦ A stern chase is when the chaser follows the chased astern, directly upon the same point of the compass.

♦ To lie with a ship's fore-foot in a chase, is to sail and meet with her by the nearest distance, and so to cross her in her way, as to come across her fore-foot. A ship is said to have a good chase when she is so built forward or astern that she can carry many guns to shoot forwards or backwards; according to which she is said to have a good forward or good stern chase. Chasing to windward, is often termed chasing in the wind's eye.

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