guard-boat
(ˈgɑːdbəʊt)
a. A boat appointed to row the rounds among the ships of war in a harbour, to observe that their officers keep a good look-out. b. A boat employed by harbour authorities to enforce quarantine or custom-house regulations.
| 1696 Lond. Gaz. No. 3078/2 The Guard Boat belonging to His Majesty's Garison of Tinmouth Castle. 1758 J. Blake Plan Mar. Syst. 4 By rowing round the ship, during the night, in a guard-boat, as is done by the officers of the customs with regard to homeward bound Indiamen. 1772–84 Cook Voy. (1790) I. 19 They attempted to go on shore, but were stopped by the guard-boat. 1833 H. Martineau Cinnamon & Pearls i. 2 The guard-boat might as well have been empty for any opposition that it offered to the approach of the raft. 1878 N. Amer. Rev. CXXVII. 384 To run the gauntlet of the guard-boats. |