King James Bible Dictionary

border, with no more reference to lands bordering on the sea than to any other bordering lands.

COAST, noun

1. The exterior line, limit or border of a country, as in Scripture. From the river to the uttermost sea shall your coast be. Deuteronomy 11:24. And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim. Numbers 24:24. Hence the word may signify the whole country within certain limits. Exodus 10:4.

2. The edge or margin of the land next to the sea; the sea-shore. This is the more common application of the word; and it seems to be used for sea-coast, the border of the sea. Hence it is never used for the bank of a river.

3. A side; applied to objects indefinitely, by Bacon and Newton. This is a correct use of the word, but now obsolete.

4. The country near the sea-shore; as, populous towns along the coast

The coast is clear, is a proverbial phrase signifying, the danger is over; the enemies have marched off, or left the coast

COAST, verb intransitive

1. To sail near a coast; to sail by or near the shore, or in sight of land.

The ancients coasted only in their navigation.

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

COAST, verb transitive

1. To sail by or near to; as, to coast the American shore.

2. To draw near; to approach; to follow.

COASTED, participle passive Sailed by.

COASTER, noun

1. One who sails near the shore.

2. A vessel that is employed in sailing along a coast, or is licensed to navigate or trade from port to port in the same country. In the United States, coasting vessels of twenty tuns burthen and upwards must be enrolled at the custom house.

COASTING, participle present tense Sailing along or near a coast.

COASTING-PILOT, noun A pilot who conducts vessels along a coast.

COASTING-TRADE, noun The trade which is carried on between the different ports of the same country, or under the same jurisdiction, as distinguished from foreign trade.

COASTING-VESSEL, noun A vessel employed in coasting; a coaster.