Steeple Chace, s. A race over the country by hunters.
Steer, s. A young bullock.
Stem, v. To oppose a current, to pass across or forward notwithstanding the stream.
Stern, s. The hinder part of anything; the tail of a dog.
Stern (Sterna nigra, Linn.), s.
This species is less than the common tern; weight about two ounces and three-quarters; length ten inches; bill black; irides dusky; forehead, sides of the head, beneath the eyes, throat, and fore part of the neck white; the rest of the head, back of the neck, and under part of the body, black; back, wings, and tail, deep ash-colour; vent and under tail-coverts white; the tail is less forked than in either of the other species; the outer feathers edged with white; legs dull red, the webs much indented or semipalmated. In some the forehead and fore part of the neck are mottled with black; and as most authors have omitted, or at least have not made mention of any white on the forehead, such is probably another variety. The female has no white about the head.—Montagu.
Sterna (Linn.), s. Tern, a genus thus characterised:—
Bill as long, or longer than the head, almost straight, compressed, fringed, cutting and pointed; the mandibles of equal length, the upper slightly inclined towards the point; nostrils towards the middle of the bill, slit lengthwise, and pierced from part to part; legs small, naked to above the knee; shank very short; four toes, the three fore ones reunited by a cut membrane, the hind toe free; claws small and arched; tail more or less forked; wings very long and pointed, the first quill the longest.
Stew, v. To seeth anything in a slow moist heat.
Stew, s. A storepond, a small pond where fish are kept for the table.