sterling (1), starling, sterlyng

& a. [Prob. for esterling or esternling, from A. S. eástan = from the east, or eástern =eastern, and suff. -ling; so called after the Ester lings or North Germans (Hanse merchants), who were the first moneyers in England. In a statute of Edward I. we find "Denarius Angliæ, qui vocatur Sterling us; " and in a charter of Henry III. the sterling is set down as a penny. Cotgrave gives " Esterlin, a penny sterling, our penny."] IMG:content-0286.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0287.png:[blocks in formation] 2. Shipwright .: The after part of a ve el or boat. In ships the stern ends below at the junction of the stern-post with the keel. Sterns are round or square. [ASTERN.] A ship is said to be down by the stern when 3. The tail of an animal. drawing more water aft than forward. "Gan his sturdy sterne about to weld." Spenser: F. Q., I. xi. 28. *II Fig .: The post of management or direction; the helm. "Have sometime po e ed the sterne of Scotland."Holinshed: Hist. Scotland (an. 1553). stern-board, s. Naut .: The backward motion of a ve el; hence, a lo of way in making a tack. To make a stern - board : To fall back from the point gained in the last tack; also, to set the sails so as the ve el may be impelled stern foremost.