Sterling was the known and approved standard in England, in all
probability, from the beginning of King Henry the Second's reign.
S. M. Leake.
Ster"ling (?), a. 1. Belonging to, or relating to, the standard British
money of account, or the British coinage; as, a pound sterling; a
shilling sterling; a penny sterling; -- now chiefly applied to the
lawful money of England; but sterling cost, sterling value, are used.
"With sterling money." Shak.
2. Genuine; pure; of excellent quality; conforming to the highest
standard; of full value; as, a work of sterling merit; a man of
sterling good sense.
Stern (?), n. [AS. stearn a kind of bird. See Starling.] (Zoöl.) The
black tern.
Stern, a. [Compar. Sterner (?); superl. Sternest.] [OE. sterne, sturne,
AS. styrne; cf. D. stuurish stern, Sw. stursk refractory. √166.]
Having a certain hardness or severity of nature, manner, or aspect;
hard; severe; rigid; rigorous; austere; fixed; unchanging; unrelenting;
hence, serious; resolute; harsh; as, a sternresolve; a stern necessity;
a stern heart; a stern gaze; a stern decree.
The sterne wind so loud gan to rout.
Chaucer.