A person or thing that pursues something, or a mild drink taken after a stronger alcoholic drink.
From Middle English 'chasen' meaning to hunt or pursue, from Old French 'chacier.' The drinking sense emerged in the 1890s, referring to following a strong drink with something milder.
The dual meaning of 'chaser' reflects two very different pursuits - the active hunt and the passive relief after strong alcohol. Both involve following one thing with another, showing how metaphorical thinking shapes vocabulary.
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