stern etymology

Etymology:

"Stern" comes from the Old English word "steorra," which means "star."

Meaning:

• (noun) The rear end of a boat or ship.
• (adjective) Strict or severe in manner or appearance.

Origin:

The origin of the word "stern" is likely related to the use of stars for navigation. In early sailing, the position of the stars was used to determine the direction of travel. The stern of a boat was therefore the part that faced away from the stars and towards the direction of travel.

Over time, the word "stern" came to be used more generally to refer to the back end of any object, as well as to describe a person who is strict or severe.

stern relate terms

• star

  Etymology The word star derives from the Old English word steorra which in turn orig

• steer

  Etymology The word steer comes from the Old English word steor which is related to t

• steering

  Etymology The word steering comes from the Old English word steoran which means to

• strenuous

  Etymology Latin strenuus meaning active vigorous energetic Meaning Requirin

• quarter

  Etymology The word quarter has several etymological roots Latin quartus meaning

• taffrail

  Etymology The word taffrail is derived from the Dutch word taferel which means tr

• rigorous

  Etymology The word rigorous derives from the Latin word rigor meaning stiffness ha

• abaft

  Etymology Middle English abaft from Old French abaf arriere from Late Latin ab af

• unappeasable

  Etymology Unappeaseable lt Old French desappaisable lt Latin disappaxiābilis tha

• strict

  Etymology Strict Latin strictus drawn tight tense Meaning Adhering to a se

• inexorable

  Etymology The word inexorable comes from the Latin word inexorabilis which means u