Naut. [An English formation from STERN sb.3 on the analogy of KELSON, KEELSON. For the second element -son, see the etymological note s.v. KELSON.
Falconer Dict. Marine (1769–1815) explains and uses stemson, but does not recognize sternson as a term for the stern-post knee.]
In a wooden vessel, the knee-shaped timber fitted into the angle formed by the junction of stern-post and kelson in order to secure the joint.
1846. A. Young, Naut. Dict., 322. Sternson, or Stern-knee. A piece of compass timber forming a contination of a vessel’s keelson, and extending over the deadwood to the stern-post, which is secured to it by bolts.
c. 1860. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 66. The ‘sternson,’ or ‘inner post’ … bears the same relation to the stern post that the stemson does the stem.
b. Sternson-knee (in the same sense).
1849. Longf., Build. Ship, 178. Stemson and keelson and sternson-knee.
