Coast guard

Coast Coast (k[=o]st), 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. [1913 Webster]

2. The exterior line, limit, or border of a country; frontier border. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

From the river, the river Euphrates, even to the uttermost sea, shall your coast be. --Deut. xi. 24. [1913 Webster]

3. The seashore, or land near it. [1913 Webster]

He sees in English ships the Holland coast. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

We the Arabian coast do know At distance, when the species blow. --Waller. [1913 Webster]

{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.] [1913 Webster]