'Coast guard' definitions:

Definition of 'Coast guard'

From: GCIDE
  • 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 (Zool.), 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]

Definition of 'Coast guard'

From: GCIDE
  • Guard \Guard\, n. [OF. guarde, F. garde; of German origin; cf. OHG. wart, warto, one who watches, warta a watching, Goth. wardja watchman. See Guard, v. t.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. One who, or that which, guards from injury, danger, exposure, or attack; defense; protection. [1913 Webster]
  • His greatness was no guard to bar heaven's shaft. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. A man, or body of men, stationed to protect or control a person or position; a watch; a sentinel. [1913 Webster]
  • The guard which kept the door of the king's house. --Kings xiv. 27. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. One who has charge of a mail coach or a railway train; a conductor. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Any fixture or attachment designed to protect or secure against injury, soiling, or defacement, theft or loss; as: (a) That part of a sword hilt which protects the hand. (b) Ornamental lace or hem protecting the edge of a garment. (c) A chain or cord for fastening a watch to one's person or dress. (d) A fence or rail to prevent falling from the deck of a vessel. (e) An extension of the deck of a vessel beyond the hull; esp., in side-wheel steam vessels, the framework of strong timbers, which curves out on each side beyond the paddle wheel, and protects it and the shaft against collision. (f) A plate of metal, beneath the stock, or the lock frame, of a gun or pistol, having a loop, called a bow, to protect the trigger. (g) (Bookbinding) An interleaved strip at the back, as in a scrap book, to guard against its breaking when filled. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. A posture of defense in fencing, and in bayonet and saber exercise. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. An expression or admission intended to secure against objections or censure. [1913 Webster]
  • They have expressed themselves with as few guards and restrictions as I. --Atterbury. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Watch; heed; care; attention; as, to keep guard. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. (Zool.) The fibrous sheath which covers the phragmacone of the Belemnites. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Guard is often used adjectively or in combination; as, guard boat or guardboat; guardroom or guard room; guard duty. [1913 Webster]
  • Advanced guard, Coast guard, etc. See under Advanced, Coast, etc.
  • Grand guard (Mil.), one of the posts of the second line belonging to a system of advance posts of an army. --Mahan.
  • Guard boat. (a) A boat appointed to row the rounds among ships of war in a harbor, to see that their officers keep a good lookout. (b) A boat used by harbor authorities to enforce the observance of quarantine regulations.
  • Guard cells (Bot.), the bordering cells of stomates; they are crescent-shaped and contain chlorophyll.
  • Guard chamber, a guardroom.
  • Guard detail (Mil.), men from a company regiment etc., detailed for guard duty.
  • Guard duty (Mil.), the duty of watching patrolling, etc., performed by a sentinel or sentinels.
  • Guard lock (Engin.), a tide lock at the mouth of a dock or basin.
  • Guard of honor (Mil.), a guard appointed to receive or to accompany eminent persons.
  • Guard rail (Railroads), a rail placed on the inside of a main rail, on bridges, at switches, etc., as a safeguard against derailment.
  • Guard ship, a war vessel appointed to superintend the marine affairs in a harbor, and also, in the English service, to receive seamen till they can be distributed among their respective ships.
  • Life guard (Mil.), a body of select troops attending the person of a prince or high officer.
  • Off one's guard, in a careless state; inattentive; unsuspicious of danger.
  • On guard, serving in the capacity of a guard; doing duty as a guard or sentinel; watching.
  • On one's guard, in a watchful state; alert; vigilant.
  • To mount guard (Mil.), to go on duty as a guard or sentinel.
  • To run the guard, to pass the watch or sentinel without leave.
  • Syn: Defense; shield; protection; safeguard; convoy; escort; care; attention; watch; heed. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'coast guard'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Coast guard'