What does "stern" mean?

Additional senses

1. 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.
2. 3.Fig.: The post of management or direction. And sit chiefest stern of public weal. Shak.
3. 4.The hinder part of anything. Spenser.
4. 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.
5. 6.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.stern wheeler.