Chase
Chase turns up in 2 fields: fasteners, printing. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Chase in fasteners
To run a tap, die or thread chaser through an existing thread to clean and reform it without cutting it oversize.
Restoring a damaged, dirty, painted or rusty thread by running a tool through it that follows the existing form. Chasing taps and dies are made to reform crests and push out debris rather than remove much metal, which matters on old threads where a cutting tap would loosen the fit. Galvanized and painted threads, head bolt holes and cut ends of threaded rod are routine chasing jobs.
"Chase every head bolt hole before you torque, crud in the bottom will throw your clamp load way off."
Chase in printing
A heavy steel or iron frame used to hold metal type and blocks securely together for printing.
In letterpress printing, the compositor arranges pages of type inside this rigid metal rectangle on an imposing stone. Wooden or metal furniture is placed around the type, and expanding quoins are tightened to lock everything into a solid, immovable mass. Once locked up, the entire assembly can be safely lifted and mounted onto the bed of the printing press.
"Lock up the form tightly in the chase, because if a single letter drops out while we move it to the platen, we've to start over."