▪ I. coast, n.
(kəʊst)
Forms: 4–7 cost(e, 4–6 coost(e, (4 kost(e, coest), 6 coaste, 6– coast; Sc. 6–8 coist.
[ME. coste, a. OF. coste (in mod.F. côte) = Pr., It. costa side, border, coast:—L. costa rib, flank or side (of certain things). Some of the senses are expressed in mod.F. by côté, OF. costet:—L. costātum lit. the ribbed (part). The spelling coast is rare bef. 1600, and not found at all in some obs. senses. As the development of the senses had taken place already in French, these do not appear in any linear order in English; thus 9 is not merely related to 8, but also closely to 1, as in side.]
I. The side of any body.
† 1. a. The side of the body (of men or animals); the part fortified by the ribs. † by my coste: by my side (quot. 1591). Obs.
(In late usage perh. referred immediately to L. costa.)
| c 1420 Anturs of Arth. xlvii, Alle the cost of the knyȝte he keruys doune clene. 1485 Malory Arthur vii. xii, Syr Beaumayns smote hym thorou the cost of the body. 1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde 7 In eache syde or cost of the belly. 1591 Spenser M. Hubberd 294 This curdog by my coste..will serve my sheepe to gather. 1655–60 Stanley Hist. Philos. I. ii. 13 Into the lungs, veines, and costs. |
b. esp. in
Sc., where sometimes
= ‘trunk, girth’.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace ii. 64 The grounden suerd throuch out his cost it schar. 1513 Douglas æneis ii. vi. [v.] 18 Greikis, hid the hors coist within. Ibid. x. iv. 129 In mannys form fra his cost to his crown. 1570 Sir W. Sinclair in Chambers Dom. Ann. Scot. I. 65 It was mair nor twa eln of length, as great as the coist of ane man. a 1605 Montgomerie ‘O pleasand plant’ 15 Then quench this fyre, quhilk runneth ay the poste Out throu my cost. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads & Songs I. 346 And round and round about Dushit him coist and bak. |
c. The side of an animal, for cooking.
| 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 48 Half ane cost, to the sercheouris of thevis.. two ribbis of the cost to the medcinar. 1676 True Gentlewoman's Delight (N.), To fry a coast of lamb. Take a coast of lamb, and parboil, take out all the bones. 1818 Todd s.v., We still use the expression of a coast of mutton. |
† 2. transf. The side (of anything).
Obs.| a 1400–50 Alexander 1522 Euen as þe esyngis ȝede ouire be þe costes. 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle v. xiv. (1483) 107 In a round spere..there is neither cost ne corner begynnyng ne ende. a 1470 Tiptoft Cæsar v. (1530) 7 They ryde by every coste of the batell castynge dartys. 1578 Lyte Dodoens v. xxviii. 586 The coastes or sides [of the cucumber] be long, and greene at the beginning, & afterward yellow. 1704 Newton Opticks (J.), Otherwise the rays would not be refracted towards that coast rather than any other coast. |
† 3. A rib of a ship. (F.
côte de navire.)
Obs.| 1625 B. Jonson Staple of N. iii. ii. (1631) 40 It is an Automa..and has a nimble taile Made like an auger, with which taile she wrigles Betwixt the coasts of a Ship, and sinkes it streight. |
II. The side of the land, sea-side, country-side.
4. The edge or margin of the land next the sea, the sea-shore.
a. In the full phrase,
coast of the sea,
sea-coast = sea-side. Formerly sometimes
land's coast.
See further
s.v. sea-coast.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 41 Do mak þre hundreth schippes opon þe sees koste. 1393 Gower Conf. III. 296 The ship upon the wawes drofe Till that they se the londes coste. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xiii. xxii. (1495) 455 Grete costes of the see ben callyd Sinus. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) viii. 29 Sum oþer hauens þat er on þa costes of þe see. a 1400 Octouian 1247 Now folwen we to the wateres cost. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ii. (1520) 10 b/2 Fast beside a cost of the se. 1552 Lyndesay Monarche iv. 5477 Apone the costis of the see. 1611 Bible Matt. iv. 13 Capernaum, which is vpon the Sea coast. |
b. By ellipsis
coast. (The ordinary use.)
| c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. B. 1033 Hit [the Dead Sea] is corsed of kynde & hit coostez als. 1375 Barbour Bruce xvi. 553 [They] Saw till thar cost schippes approchand. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. vi. (1885) 123 Owre ffishers and the dwellers vppon owre costes. 1513 Douglas æneis iii. Prol. 38 By..Vncouth coistis, and mony wilsum strandis Now gois our barge. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. iv. iii. 25 The Romaine Legions, all from Gallia drawne, Are landed on your Coast. 1635 N. Carpenter Geog. Del. i. iii. 66 On the coasts of Norway. 1776 Withering Brit. Plants (1796) II. 486 The Poppy..I have seen growing in gardens near the coast. 1865 Geikie Scen. & Geol. Scot. iii. 46 The abrupt rocky coast which forms the sea-board. |
c. the coast is familiarly applied in different regions to specific littoral districts, in India
esp. to the Coromandel coast, and thence (in last century) to the Madras Presidency (Yule); also applied to the Pacific coast of N. America; the West Coast (and thence the province of Westland) of the South Island of New Zealand; the West Coast of Africa. Also
attrib.| 1793 H. Boyd Wks. 78 (Y.) The belles of the Coast. 1800 Wellington I. 227 (Y.), I have only 1892 Coast and 1200 Bombay sepoys. 1866 Daily Morning Chron. (Washington) 5 Feb. 1/1 Oregon is the land of pretty girls and big red apples..there are enough around to supply the whole coast. 1879 Pollok Sport in Br. Burmah I. 26 (Y.) Is it any wonder, then, that the Coast Army has lost its ancient renown? 1881 H. W. Nesfield Chequered Career vii. 72 That was nothing out of the way at that time ‘on the coast’. 1888 Powles Land of Pink Pearl 280 He was then for a time ‘on the coast’, as it is called, a polite form of saying a man has been in the slave trade on the West Coast of Africa. 1908 J. G. Findlay Humbugs & Homilies 258 Who talks as tall as a Coast Cockatoo. 1926 Princess Marie Louise Lett. from Gold Coast 3 We English when we talk about the ‘Coast’ mean only the Gold Coast, whereas it actually includes Gambia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Those living there, however, are generally spoken of as ‘Coasters’. 1930 Publishers' Weekly 8 Feb. 708/1, I like the Coast because it comprises California, Oregon, Washington and the contiguous States. 1936 [see coaster 3 b]. 1939 ‘M. Innes’ Stop Press iv. i. 419 The coast—that's what they call Hollywood. 1946 ― From London Far iii. vi. 214, I leave for the Coast six tomorrow morning... A message from Johannesburg sends a man shooting off to the shores of the Pacific. 1949 B. Dowling Canterbury 11 Beyond the western foothills lost The huge and desolate ranges of the Coast. 1958 Times 13 Aug. 12/4 It has been the life's work of many merchant converters in Manchester to produce speciality African prints for the people..‘on the Coast’. |
d. (from) coast to coast, across an entire country or continent, nationwide; used
esp. with reference to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of America. Also
attrib.| 1850 Tennyson In Mem. lxv, And then I know the mist is drawn A lucid veil from coast to coast. 1911 Chicago Daily News 23 Sept. 1/1 Aviator Robert G. Fowler, coast to coast aviator. 1919 F. Hurst Humoresque 35 Why, I wouldn't be surprised if by spring I wasn't tuning up again for a coast-to-coast tour. 1922 S. Lewis Babbitt viii. 112 Mr. Frink was known from Coast to Coast as ‘Chum’. 1935 C. Day Lewis Time to Dance 61 A coast-to-coast hitch-up. 1960 News Chron. 25 Feb. 6/8 It was made into a coast-to-coast TV show in America. |
e. to clear the coast,
the coast is clear:
i.e. of enemies who would dispute an attempt to land or embark; hence ‘the danger is over, the enemies have marched off’ (J.); also, the way is open
for an operation, event, etc. See
clear v. 10,
adj. 20.
| 1530–84 [see clear, as above]. 1567 Harman Caveat 30 Where these rufflares might well beholde the coaste about them cleare. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. iii. 89 See the Coast clear'd, and then we will depart. 1634 Sanderson Serm. II. 288 When he is sure the coast is clear, and no body near to enter the lists with him. 1656 Hobbes Liberty, etc. (1841) 57 With these distinctions, he says, he clears the coast, whereas in truth he darkeneth his meaning. 1677 W. Hubbard Narrative 44 By the end of November the coast was pritty clear of them. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) II. 121 Having learned to know when the coast is clear, we may sally out boldly to forage for new discoveries. 1868 Freeman Norm. Conq. II. ix. 326 The coast was now clear for Godwine's return. |
† f. Rarely, the bank of a river or pond.
Obs.| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 517 We must keep them [swine] all together by water sides..and, if the coasts be so dry..then must they have water set in troughes. |
† 5. The border, bound, or limit, of a country; territory on or near a boundary or frontier, borderland. (Chiefly
pl.)
Obs.| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. ii. 85 Þe counte of coueitise and alle þe costes [v.r. coostes] aboute. 1382 Wyclif Numb. xx. 16 In the cytee of Cades, that is in thin uttermoost coostis. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 94 Coste of a cuntre, confinium, ora. 1535 Coverdale Matt. ii. 16 In Bethleem & in all the coastes thereof. 1604 T. Wright Pass. i. iii. 13 Heere we may beginne, to discover the coasts of Selfe-love. 1611 Bible Judg. i. 18 Also Judah tooke Gaza with the coast therof. a 1618 Raleigh Maxims St. (1651) 19 Leaving none to defend their coast, though being beset with many Enemies. |
† 6. A tract or region of the earth; a district, place, clime, country, ‘part of the world’.
Obs.| a 1300 Cursor M. 24885 (Cott.) All þaa þat in þat ferr cost fard. c 1315 Shoreham 10 This bethe the wordes of cristninge Bi thyse Englissche costes. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 295 Thy landes is thus to chese in costes colde. 1483 Cath. Angl. 77 A Coste; vbi, a kyndome; clima uel climata. 1574 tr. Marlorat's Apocalips 114 He alludeth to the South countries, where the heate of the sunne doth wonderfully anoy suche as dwel in those coasts. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 464 While I abroad Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek Deliverance for us all. |
† 7. A region (of the air or of the heavens).
Obs.| c 1350 Cursor M. 17916 (Arundel), I..herde a voys fro heuen coost. c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. i. §19 Thise Azimutz seruen to knowe the costes of the firmament. 1549 J. Olde Erasm. Par. Ephes. II. Introd. 14 The coastes of the ayre. 1594 Blundevil Exerc. vi. (ed. 7) 614 The coast or part of heauen, wherein the Sunne or Starre is at that instant. 1631 Primer our Lady 477 Send us, from the heavenly coast, Cleerenes of Thy beames so bright. |
† 8. a. A point of the compass; quarter, direction.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. xviii. 113 Out of þe west coste a wenche..Cam walkynge in þe wey. 1382 Wyclif Jer. xlix. 36 Y shal brynge in vp on Elam foure wyndus fro the foure coestus of heuene. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iv. (1586) 162 b, Let the front of your Henne house stande alwaies towardes the East, and to that coast let the doore open. 1609 C. Butler Fem. Mon. ii. (1623) E iij, Hauing..the foure Coasts, E. S. W. and N., noted in the out-sides. 1642 Rogers Naaman 184 Let the winde turne to another Coast. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. s.v. Course, That Point of the Compass, or Coast of the Horizon. |
† b. spec. in the transplanting of trees: see
quot. 1669, and
cf. coast v. 11.
Obs.| 1664 Evelyn Sylva (1679) 20. 1669 Worlidge Syst. Agric. (1681) 107 In the removal of such Trees that have arrived to any considerable bigness, it is very expedient to observe the coast and side of the stock, which way it stood before its removal; and..place the same sides to the Coast they tended to before. 1676 ― Cyder (1691) 63. |
† 9. With the extended sense of
side = space lying in any direction from a person or body, quarter;
= L.
pars, and often capable of being rendered ‘part’; in such phrases as
by one (or another) coast;
in, from, every (or any) coast.
Obs.| c 1320 Sir Beues 1023 Ase he com ride be a cost, Twei kniȝtes a fond of Beues ost. c 1325 Coer de L. 5632 Now sewyd Richard with hys hoost, And closyd hem in, by anothir coost. 14.. Purific. Marie in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 127 God chose thi wombe for his tabernacle And halowed hyt so clene yn euery cost. c 1450 Why I can't be a Nun 309 in E.E.P. (1862) 146 And now..in euery cost I haue schewed the nunnes gouernawnce. 1513 Bradshaw St. Werburge ii. 2032 Euery good dede done in any cost It cometh allonly of the holy gost. |
† 10. Cf. coast v. 10, 2 d.
Obs.| 1615 Latham Falconry (1633) 1 The wayes and coasts of birds, and fowls of the aire, are altogether uncertaine. |
III. repr. F.
côte hill-side, slope, declivity.
11. (
U.S. and
Canada.) A (snow- or ice-covered) slope down which one slides on a sled; the act of so sliding down. (Originally
local.)
| 1775 Let. in Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc. July (1865) 398 Some of our School lads..improved the coast from Sherburn's Hill down to School Street..Their fathers before 'em had improved it as a coast from time immemorial. 1872 L. M. Alcott Old-fash. Girl 36 ‘Let's run,’ said Polly, as they came into the path after the last coast. 1883 E. M. Bacon Dict. Boston (Mass.) 19 The boys of Boston are as fond as the boys of the Revolutionary days of the coast on the Common. 1889 Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 5 Feb. 73 During a racing contest at a coast in Albany..a loaded bob-sled came in contact with some ice hummocks, breaking the steering apparatus. |
12. Hence, (through
coast v.) a run down-hill on a bicycle or tricycle, with the feet off the pedals. See
coast v. 13. Also
transf., applied to a motor-car, rocket, etc.
| 1886 Cyclist's T.C. Gaz. IV. 137 Mr. Pennell, in the January Gazette, spoke of magnificent ‘coasts’ miles in length. 1887 Athenæum 22 Jan. 123/3 Their [tricycle] brake snaps at the top of a steep hill, thus frustrating the anticipated delight of a seven miles ‘coast’ (why have we not got this convenient term?) 1888 G. B. Thayer Bicycle Tour (New York World), The only pleasant anticipation I had in the 3 hours' climb was the coast that was sure to come. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 2 Oct. 2/1 We had a clear run of five miles without pedalling... A long free-wheel of seven miles. Down, down, down we sped, a long exhilarating coast. 1940 Illustr. London News CXCVI. 292/3, I purposely drove it as a careful wartime motorist would, with 40 m.p.h. as my main-road speed, a sparing use of the gears, and an occasional ‘coast’ in neutral on really long descents. 1968 Times 16 Dec. 7/4 Once the coast to the moon has begun, Apollo is separated from the third stage. |
IV. 13. attrib. and
Comb.: in sense ‘of, pertaining to, or at the sea-coast’, as
coast-belt,
coast-defender,
coast-district,
coast-fishing,
coast-fringe,
coast-land,
coast-light,
coast-line,
coast-region,
coast-ridge,
coast-road,
coast-service,
coast-side (
cf. country-side),
coast-survey,
coast-town,
coast-trade,
coast-trader.
| 1887 Spectator 22 Oct. 1413 The long *coast-belt imperfectly settled. |
| 1883 Whitaker's Alm. 445/2 China.—3 ironclads. Two of them are double-turreted *coast-defenders of the first class. |
| 1907 H. M. Chadwick Orig. Eng. Nation ix. 218 the *coast-district between the two rivers. |
| 1774 Hist. in Ann. Reg. (1775) 80/2 To spare the *coast-fishing craft. |
| 1852 Kingsley Poems, Andromeda 197 The downs of the *coastland. |
| 1848 J. Martineau Stud. Christianity 149 A port of traffic, with *coast-lights instead of stars. |
| 1860 W. G. Clark Vac. Tour 38 The road at first follows the *coast-line. 1879 Froude Cæsar vi. 55 The coast line of Pontus extended from Sinope to Trebizond. |
| 1907 H. M. Chadwick Orig. Eng. Nation 214 The *coast-regions of the North Sea. |
| 1814 Scott Wav. xlvi, One of the low *coast⁓roads to Edinburgh passed through this plain. |
| 1758 J. Blake Plan Mar. Syst. 30 If on shore, or in *coast-service. |
| 1716 Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 121 In all this parish, and all the *coast-side, they lived upon free quarters. |
| 1832 Deb. Congress 30 May 3187 The *coast survey..will not be completed..under sixty years. |
| 1670 Eachard Cont. Clergy 47 We shall hear of nothing but star-board and lar-board, etc... Such a sermon may possibly do some good in a *coast-town. |
| 1851 C. Cist Cincinnati 282 Flat-boats..take down more or less bacon for the *coast trade. |
| 1864 J. A. Grant Walk across Africa 161 Jumah, a *coast-trader. |
14. Special combs., as
coast-blockade (see
quot.);
coast-cocket, a certificate for the carriage of goods by water along the coast;
coast-defence, the protection of the coast of a country from attack by sea, either by forts or sea-vessels;
coast disease Austral., a disease of sheep and cattle caused by dietary deficiency of certain minerals;
coast-fever, a fever occurring in coastal regions;
spec. a disease, transmitted by ticks, which attacks cattle on the East Coast of Africa;
= East Coast fever (
east D. 1 b);
coast-find (see
quot. 1865);
coast-ice, the belt of ice formed along a coast in high latitudes, and breaking off in summer;
coast-liner, a surveyor whose work is to map a coast-line; so
coast-lining;
coast-man, one who dwells on the coast;
coast-partridge,
-pheasant, a Natal name for
Francolinus natalensis;
coast-rat, a name for the Sand-mole of S. Africa, a species of
Bathyergus;
coast sickness Austral. = coast disease;
coast-waiter, a custom-house officer who superintends the landing and shipping of goods coastwise;
coast-warning, ‘synonymous with
storm-signal’ (
Adm. Smyth);
coast-watcher,
-watching (see
quots.).
| 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., *Coast-blockade, a body of men formerly under the jurisdiction of the Customs, termed Preventive Service..now become the Coast-guard. |
| 1776 Adam Smith W.N. v. ii. (1869) II. 499 Goods carried coastwise..require certificates or *coast-cockets. |
| 1854 Chambers's Jrnl. 172/1 A plan for *coast defence. 1869 Ibid. 710/1 A low-speed coast-defence vessel. 1883 Whitaker's Alm. 445/2 Norway.—Has only 4 coast-defence monitors. 1886 Harper's Mag. June 23/1 Another type of ships, which are styled ‘coast-defence vessels’. 1904 Westm. Gaz. 28 Dec. 2/1 Our coast-defence artillery. 1957 Encycl. Brit. V. 888/2 Modern coast defense installations up to and including the World War II period relied on camouflage and dispersion as well as limited mobility. 1966 J. L. Moulton Norwegian Campaign 1940 iii. 81 The senior naval officer at Narvik knew the weakness of the two 40-year-old coast defence ships. |
| 1938 H. R. Marston (title) Studies on *coast disease of sheep in South Australia. 1940 Nature 31 Aug. 308/2 Investigations of foot rot, coast disease of sheep, and cobalt- and copper-deficiency in ruminants. |
| 1840 R. H. Dana Bef. Mast (1841) xxiii. 64/1 Keeping him hard at work while ill of the *coast fever. 1904 Daily Chron. 4 July 7/7 Coast fever. 1904 [see East Coast fever s.v. east D. 1 b]. 1905 Science in S. Afr. 339 (Pettman), They clearly recognized and described the small and characteristic organisms of African Coast Fever. |
| 1865 Lubbock Preh. Times iv. 80 ‘*Coastfinds’ are discoveries of rude flint implements, which are found lying in large numbers on certain spots along the old line of coast. |
| 1856 Kane Arct. Expl. II. xv. 158 Greenstone..frozen into the *coast-ice of the belt. 1863 Lyell Antiq. Man 363 In the year 1850, much larger blocks had been removed by coast⁓ice. |
| 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXXIII. 102/2 It is with the high-water line that the *coast-liner is concerned, delineating its character according to the Admiralty symbols. Ibid. 102/1 Coast-lining. In a detailed survey the coast is sketched in by walking along it, fixing by theodolite or sextant angles. 1927 Blackw. Mag. Apr. 516/2, I was..peacefully engaged in coast-lining with a sextant and theodolite. |
| 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 86 To *coast man ride, Lent stuffe to prouide. 1594 Plat Diuerse New Sorts of Soyle 59 The Coast-men..doo also bestow that which remaineth of the pilchardes upon their leane and hungrey grounds. 1841 Poe Tales, Desc. Maelström (1845) 89 Among the whole of the Lofoden coastmen, we three were the only ones who made a regular business of going out to the islands. 1864 J. A. Grant Walk across Africa 161 They refused to allow any coast-men into their kingdom. |
| 1906 W. L. Sclater Birds S. Afr. IV. 213 Natal Francolin. .. ‘*Coast Partridge’ of Natal; ‘Namaqua Pheasant’ of Transvaal Boers. |
| 1849 Sk. Nat. Hist. Mammalia IV. 98 The *coast-rat, or sand-mole of the downs..is a native of Southern Africa, frequenting sandy tracts along the coast. |
| 1883 Trans. R. Soc. S. Australia VI. 136 Sheep are subject to a wasting and fatal disease, known as ‘*coast sickness’, if pastured continuously on these littoral tracts. |
| 1774 Hull Dock Act 45 In the presence of a tide surveyor or *coast-waiter. |
| 1916 War Illustr. IV. 604/2 They don't call us coastguards, mind you, but *Coast Watchers. 1928 Daily Express 23 Mar. 1/3 The small force of coast-watchers who have taken the place of the old coastguards. 1955 Sun (Baltimore) 19 May (Edition B) 8/1 The area [in Guadalcanal] is so inaccessible and inhospitable, that when Australian ‘coast watchers’ used it as a hideout for spotting and reporting Japanese movements to the Americans, even the Japanese left the island agents alone. |
| 1925 Act. 15 & 16 Geo V c. 88 §1 A coast-watching force for the performance of the duties hitherto performed by the coast-guard. |
▪ II. coast, v. (
kəʊst)
Forms: 4–5
costay,
costey,
costie,
coostie, 4–6
cost(e, 5–6
coost, 6–
coast.
[ME. had costey-en, -ay-en, rarely costi-en, a. OF. costei-er, rarer costi-er (mod.F. côtoyer):—Romanic type cost-ic-āre, f. costa rib, side, coast: cf. It. costeggiare. The final -ey, -ay, -i, was reduced medially to e, and at length elided, being no doubt influenced by the n. coste, coost(e, coast, to which the vb. was then assimilated in form.] † 1. a. trans. To keep by the side of (a person moving on);
esp. to march on the flank of.
Obs.| 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle i. i. (1859) 2 A fayr Yonglyng of ful huge beaute me alwey costeyed. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ix. v. 73 Þe scottis made gret travale Til costay þame on ilka syde, As throw þe Land þai saw þaim ryd. 1485 Malory Arthur xviii. xxi, And euer this lady and parte of her wymmen costed the hynde. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xl. 55 So they rode costyng the hoost. 1599 T. M[oufet] Silkwormes 32 But coasted one another eu'ry where In friendly sort. 1600 Hakluyt Voy. III. 322 (R.), I..sayled..followed by the Indians, which coasted me along the riuer. 1623 Fletcher & Rowley Maid Mill i. i, Who are these that coast us? You told me the walk was private. 1670 Cotton Espernon i. ii. 63 Having continually coasted them, and attended their motion with eight hundred light Horse. |
b. intr.| 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle ii. xlvi. (1859) 52 So alwey he wente, kepyng and costeyng after. 1548 Hall Chron. Rich. III, an. 3 (R.) Then he folowed with his footemen, the wynges of horsemen coastynge and rangynge on euery syde. |
† 2. a. trans. To go or move by the side or border of (a place, etc.); to skirt.
Obs.| c 1340 Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1696 In rede rudede vpon rak rises þe sunne, & ful clere costez þe clowdes of þe welkyn. 1569 T. Stocker Diodorus Sic. iii. xviii. 135 Antigone..pursued them..alongest the playne, costing dayly the mountayn. 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii. (1682) 333 Thence ascendyng the Rhyne and coasting Heidleberg. 1667 Milton P.L. iii. 71 Satan..Coasting the wall of Heav'n on this side Night. 1742 Young Nt. Th. iv. 710 The Comet..takes his ample Round Thro' Depths of Ether; coasts unnumber'd Worlds. |
† b. intr. To go or pass
by,
along,
round, etc.
| 1553 Brende Curtius Dd j, [He] gotte into the towne, and coastynge along the walles came unto the place where the kynge was. 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farm 695 When the dogs course the female [fox], she doth nothing but coast round about her seat & countrie. 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville II. 114 To coast round their southern points would be a wide circuit. |
† c. Of a road: To lie or lead alongside.
Obs.| c 1430 Pilgr. Lyf Manhode ii. lix. 98 That oon of the weyes costed on the lift half, and that oother on the riht half. |
† d. fig. To move in a roundabout course, proceed circuitously.
Obs.| 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, iii. ii. 38 The King in this perceiues him, how he coasts And hedges his owne way. |
3. To proceed or travel by the coast of (sea, lake, river).
a. trans. arch.| c 1400 Rom. Rose 134 Tho gan I walke thorough the mede..The ryver syde costeiyng. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xiv. 63 He schall ga by þe playnes of Romany costayand [Cotton text 127 costynge, Fr. cousteant] þe Romayn See. 1805 Wordsw. Waggoner iii. 31 And while they coast the silent lake Their inspiration I partake. |
b. intr. (Also
to coast it.)
arch.| 1430 Lydg. Compl. Bl. Knt. vi, And by a ryver forth I gan costey. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 214 Tamerlane..coasting alongst the sea shoare, passed the time in hunting. 1697 C'tess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 276 Coasting along the little river of Guadarana. 1732 Historia Litt. III. 20 The Moslems came to the Lake of Tiberias, and coasted round it in Battle-array. 1772–84 Cook Voy. (1790) V. 1690 It was agreed to coast it along the lake. |
4. esp. To sail by the sea-coast, skirt the shore; to sail in sight of land.
a. trans.| a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon cxxx. 478 When they were passed the ryuer they costydde the desertis of abylante. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 357, xxvi. Shippes..coastyng the Frontiers of Englande. 1681 Tate Abs. & Achit. ii. 1020 Our laws, that did a boundless ocean seem, Were coasted all and fathom'd all by him. 1751 Johnson Rambler No. 187 ¶5 They had now coasted the headland. 1836 W. Irving Astoria I. 64 Coasting the lower lakes with their frail barks. |
b. intr. To sail
by or
along the coast; to sail from port to port of the same country (
cf. coasting-trade).
† c. So
to coast it.
Obs.| 1555 Eden Decades W. Ind. ii. i. (Arb.) 108 He coasted euer alonge by the shore. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. ii. 64 Coast along the Shore in sight of Land. 1705 Arbuthnot Coins (J.), The antients coasted only in their navigation, seldom taking the open sea. 1720 De Foe Capt. Singleton ii. 37 Our first design was only to coast it round the island. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 117 In coasting northerly [Frobisher] discovered the straits which bear his name. 1836 Marryat M. Easy xiii, The Spaniards coasting down shore had purchased..provisions as they required them. |
† 5. a. trans. To make the round of, traverse all parts of, explore, scour.
Obs.| c 1440 Generydes 5923 Costyng the contre many dyuers way. 1548 Hall Chron. (1809) 661 Every Capetain toke his owne ship and coasted the seas ever lokyng for the Duke of Albany. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 148 The Erle..coasted the countries in gathering of the people as he went. 1633 Massinger Guardian iv. ii, Let's take fresh ones [horses], And coast the country: ten to one we find them. |
† b. intr. with
about,
through,
over, etc.
Obs.| c 1490 Promp. Parv. 95 (MS. K.) Costyn ouyr þe cuntre [Pynson coostyn on the countre], transpatrio. 1494 Fabyan vii. 303 He..houyd there a season, and coostyd hyther and thyther. 1515 Scot. Field 326 in Chetham Misc. II, Thus they costen throw the cuntrey to the new castell. 1636 Blunt Voy. Levant (1637) 12 Who did nothing but coast up and downe the countrey. 1643 (title), A Direction for the English Traviller..to Coast about all England & Wales. |
† 6. To lie along the border or coast of; to border upon, adjoin, bound.
a. trans. Obs.| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxiv. 152 Oþer iles costayand þe land of Prestre Iohn [autres isles costeantz a la terre]. 1594 Carew Tasso (1881) 66 Three sides are coasted with a combrous let. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus' Descr. Germany v. (1622) 268 The Chauceans..coast all those nations. 1611 Speed Theat. Gt. Brit. xlii. (1614) 83/1 The East [of Durham] is altogether coasted by the German-seas. c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon §46 (1810) 53 Otterton coasteth the clifts. |
† b. Said of the ribs (see
coast n. 1).
Obs.| 1621 Quarles Div. Poems, Esther (1717) 93 Ribs coast the heart, and guard it round about. |
† c. intr. with
on,
upon, etc.
Obs.| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxiv. (heading), Othere that dwellen in the yles costynge to [Cott. fro] Prestre Johnes lond. 1581 Savile Tacitus' Agric. (1622) 188 Britanny..coasteth by East vpon Germany. 1601 Holland Pliny (1634) I. 121 [The Caspian Sea] takes diuers names of the inhabitants coasting vpon it. 1652 Earl of Monmouth tr. Bentivoglio's Hist. Relat. 57 The rest [of the Archduke's Provinces]..particularly those which coast upon France. |
† 7. fig. intr. and trans. To border
upon, come or lie near (in time, character, etc.)
to; to approach, approximate.
Obs.| 1382 Wyclif 1 Sam. Prol., Two and twenti lettris, the whiche of a greet parti niȝ coostieth to Ebrew. 1619 W. Sclater Exp. 1 Thess. (1630) 555 A kinde of Libertinisme coasting neerer vpon prophannesse. 1626 ― Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 102 More neerely coasting vpon the time of Christs second comming. 1687 W. Winstanley Lives Eng. Poets 57 In English Wiat both of them [Dante and Petrarch] doth coast. 1713 Young Last Day ii. 57 The..soul..coasted on her final state. |
† 8. intr. To approach, make one's way
to or
towards (a place or person);
= accost v. 5.
Obs.| 1490 Fabyan vii. 420 Wherof herynge, Robert le Bruze, with the powar of Scotlande, coostyd towarde the Englysshemen. 1591 Spenser Daphn. 39, I did espie Where towards me a sory wight did cost. 1625 K. Long tr. Barclay's Argenis (1636) 36 Gelanorus coasteth the readiest way to Timoclea's house. 1633 P. Fletcher Pisc. Ecl. v. xx, Home let us coast. a 1713 T. Ellwood Autobiog. 9 They..coasted over to us in the dark, and laying hold on the Horses Bridles, stop't them. |
† 9. trans. To approach,
esp. with hostility, to attack, assail;
= accost v. 6.
Obs.| 1531 Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) 332 If my lord will needs coast and invade my inward man, will I, nill I, and break violently into my heart. 1591 Sir H. Unton Corr. (1847) 461 The Duke of Mercurye coastede them, and..killed many of them. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, i. i. 268 Whose haughtie spirit, winged with desire, Will cost my Crowne. |
10. Hawking and
Hunting. Not to fly or run straight at; to keep at a distance;
esp. to fly or run from the straight course so as to cut off the chased animal when it doubles. (
Cf. 2 d.)
| 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 452 Durst not once touche his battayles, but ever kept the passages, and coasted aloofe lyke a Hawke that lykethe not her praye. 1575 Turberv. Venerie, A Cote is when a Greyhound goeth endwayes by his fellow, and giveth the Hare a turn..; but if he coast and so come by his fellow, that is no Cote. 1656 Harrington Oceana (1700) 130 Like a Greyhound, which having once coasted, will never after run fair, but grow slothful. 1677 N. Cox Gentl. Recreat. ii. 73 That you may let your Hawk fly coasting at the advantage when the Game springeth. |
† 11. trans. To place with reference to the points of the compass: see
coast n. 8 b (
esp. used in reference to transplanting trees).
Obs.| 1626 Bacon Sylva §471 In all Trees, when they be removed care ought to be taken, that the sides of the Trees be coasted (North and South, etc.) as they stood before. 1657 Austen Fruit Trees iii. 20 Coasting of trees (that is setting the same side to the South when transplanted as was before). 1708–15 Kersey s.v. Coast. |
† 12. trans. To mark with the ‘coasts’ or points of the compass; to quarter.
Obs.| 1617 tr. A. de Dominis On Rom. xiii. 12. 32 A Shipmans Card, or Sea-mappe iustly quartered, and coasted. |
13. a. orig. U.S. To slide down a snow- or ice-covered slope in a sled: see
coast n. 11.
b. Hence, to run down hill on a bicycle or tricycle without pedalling, to ‘shoot’ a hill.
| 1836 Boston Pearl 9 Jan. (Th.), Skate, if you like; ‘coast’, if you are boy enough. 1880 Wisconsin Rep. 254 For injuries suffered..by collision with persons ‘bobbing’ or ‘coasting’ on such street, the city is not liable. 1886 in Cyclist's T.C. Gaz. IV. 137 To welcome ‘coast’ as an addition to our stock of descriptive words. 1887 M. Roberts Western Avenues 187 Upon the hilly streets in town, boys and girls were..running down hill in sleighs, ‘coasting’ as they call it, with swift velocity. 1898 W. J. Locke Idols xxiii. 223 Suddenly at the top of the steep incline a bicyclist whirred past them, and coasted swiftly down. 1906 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 13 Jan. 2/3 Five friends with whom he was coasting down a steep ice-coated hill were injured. 1957 A. Clarke Later Poems (1961) 64 Then, coasting back from Milltown Malbay, I saw before bell rang a warning, Scattery Island and its round tower. |
c. To travel in a motor vehicle, rocket, etc., without thrust from the engine; also said of the vehicle.
| 1925 Morris Owner's Manual 11 Do not ‘coast’ down hill with the clutch out. 1949 Spectator 18 Nov., I switched off the engine and let the car coast down the hill. 1951 A. C. Clarke Exploration of Space iv. 34 The only practicable way of escaping from the Earth is to build up escape velocity as quickly as possible—and then to cut the rockets and ‘coast’. 1962 Daily Tel. 27 Jan. 1/1 The rocket coasted for about 30 seconds, then the Agena motor fired the second stage clear from the Atlas. |
d. Of a bird: to glide swiftly through the air with the wings used only for control.
| 1904 Sci. Amer. Suppl. 11 June 23778 The birds exhibiting no trace of fatigue even after ‘coasting’ long distances. 1935 British Birds XXVIII. 357 February 28th.—Wind S.S.W. Linnets coasting S. |
e. fig. Not to exert oneself; to make progress without undue effort. Const.
in,
into,
to, and in
phr. to coast home: to achieve or complete an effortless victory, score, etc.
slang,
orig. U.S.| 1934 M. Weseen Dict. Amer. Slang. xvii. 250 Coast home, to win easily. Coast in, to win easily. 1935 J. O'Hara Appt. Samarra v. 141 She rested her face on his shoulder, and she put up her mouth for the kiss and then she let herself coast with him. 1955 N.Y. Times 27 Feb. iv. 7/8 The struggle between Mr. Kennelly and his party grew out of organization charges that..he ‘coasted’ during the 1954 state campaign, giving scant support to its ‘blue ribbon’ ticket. 1957 Times 6 Sept. 13/1 The English team coasted comfortably to a total of 246. Ibid. 13/6 The champion was content to coast home to a points win. 1958 Times 28 Aug. 13/2 Hampshire were coasting into the lead. 1959 Times 27 Aug. 3/7 Well ahead on points, Erskine rather coasted the last two rounds. |
14. To loaf
about, to travel
about as a tramp.
Austral. slang.| 1878 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Ups & Downs xxv. 295, I ain't like you, Towney, able to coast about without a job of work from shearin' to shearin'. 1945 Baker Austral. Lang. v. 104 Expressions to describe being on the tramp..to swag it, chase the sun, coast about. |
▪ III. coast var. of
cost (herb).