Coast (kōst), n. [OF. coste, F. côte, rib, hill, shore, coast, L. costa rib, side. Cf. Accost, v. t., Cutlet.] 1. The side of a thing. [Obs.] Sir I. Newton.
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2. The exterior line, limit, or border of a country; frontier border. [Obs.]
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From the river, the river Euphrates, even to the uttermost sea, shall your coast be. Deut. xi. 24.
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3. The seashore, or land near it.
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He sees in English ships the Holland coast. Dryden.
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We the Arabian coast do know
At distance, when the species blow. Waller.
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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 (Zoöl.), 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.]
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Coast, v. t. 1. To draw near to; to approach; to keep near, or by the side of. [Obs.] Hakluyt.
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2. To sail by or near; to follow the coast line of.
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Nearchus, . . . not knowing the compass, was fain to coast that shore. Sir T. Browne.
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3. To conduct along a coast or river bank. [Obs.]
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The Indians . . . coasted me along the river. Hakluyt.
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