Coast \Coast\, n. [OF. coste, F. c[^o]te, rib, hill, shore, coast, L. costa rib, side. Cf. Accost, v. t., Cutlet.]

1. The side of a thing. [Obs.]

--Sir I. Newton.

2. The exterior line, limit, or border of a country; frontier border. [Obs.]

From the river, the river Euphrates, even to the uttermost sea, shall your coast be. --Deut. xi. 24.

3. The seashore, or land near it.

He sees in English ships the Holland coast. --Dryden.

We the Arabian coast do know At distance, when the species blow. --Waller.

The coast is clear, the danger is over; no enemy in sight. --Dryden. Fig.: There are no obstacles. ``Seeing that the coast was clear, Zelmane dismissed Musidorus.'' --Sir P. Sidney.

Coast guard.
   (a) A body of men originally employed along the coast to prevent smuggling; now, under the control of the admiralty, drilled as a naval reserve. [Eng.]


   (b) The force employed in life-saving stations along the seacoast. [U. S.]

Coast rat (Zo["o]l.), a South African mammal (Bathyergus suillus), about the size of a rabbit, remarkable for its extensive burrows; -- called also sand mole.

Coast waiter, a customhouse officer who superintends the landing or shipping of goods for the coast trade. [Eng.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Coast \Coast\, v. t.

1. To draw near to; to approach; to keep near, or by the side of. [Obs.]

--Hakluyt.

2. To sail by or near; to follow the coast line of.

Nearchus, . . . not knowing the compass, was fain to coast that shore. --Sir T. Browne.

3. To conduct along a coast or river bank. [Obs.]

The Indians . . . coasted me along the river. --Hakluyt.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Coast \Coast\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Coasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Coasting.]

[OE. costien, costeien, costen, OF. costier, costoier, F. c[^o]toyer, fr. Of. coste coast, F. c[^o]te. See Coast, n.]

1. To draw or keep near; to approach. [Obs.]

Anon she hears them chant it lustily, And all in haste she coasteth to the cry. --Shak.

2. To sail by or near the shore.

The ancients coasted only in their navigation. --Arbuthnot.

3. To sail from port to port in the same country.

4. [Cf. OF. coste, F. c[^o]te, hill, hillside.]

To slide down hill; to slide on a sled, upon snow or ice. [Local, U. S.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)