stern sheets

plural noun

, Nautical.

1. the after part of an open boat, occupied by the person in command or by passengers.

stern sheets

plural noun

1. nautical the part of an open boat near the stern

Word History and Origins

Origin of stern sheets¹

First recorded in 1475–85

Example Sentences

Unloading Menelaos’ royal keepsakes into the stern sheets, he sang out: “Now for action! Get aboard, and call your men, before I break the news at home in hall to father. Who knows better the old man’s heart than I? If you delay, he will not let you go, but he’ll descend on you in person and imperious; no turning back with empty hands for him, believe me, once his blood is up.”

From Literature

Her crew were hidden from view by a spare sail rigged as an awning over the stern sheets.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet as early as 1792 we find the Rev. James Bremner, of Walls, Orkney, proposing to make all ordinary boats capable of righting themselves in the water by placing two water-tight casks, parallel to each other, in the head and stern sheets, and by affixing a heavy iron keel.

From Project Gutenberg

Trembling and out of breath as I was, I crawled between the women and gained the stern sheets of the boat.

From Project Gutenberg

He accordingly sat down in the stern sheets and waited to see the end.

From Project Gutenberg