Etymology From Middle English forestempne, forestavne, forstanyg, perhaps continuing Old English frumstemn (“the forepart of a ship; prow”), otherwise, equivalent to fore- + stem.
When the ship was in position with the forestem to the south, a grave chamber was constructed just behind the mast.2014, Anders Winroth, The Age of the Vikings, page 93:
Above the waterline they were more symmetrical with a transom-shaped bow above the fore-stem.2015, Sean McGrail, Early Ships and Seafaring:
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Magnus walked to one of the ships and put his hand on the forestem at the front.2017, Sabrina Jarema, Lord of the Mountains:
forestem
noun
Etymology From fore- + stem (“stalk of a plant”).
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Biology, Botany, Natural sciences The forward or projected-most part of a stem
Nearby, Marikosan picked the rising and curling forestems for later cooking.2016, George C. Zidbeck, Observations and Reflections of a Country Squire: