Coaster

Also 7 coster. [f. COAST v. + -ER.]

  1.  One who sails along the coast; the master or pilot of a coasting-vessel.

1574.  W. Bourne, Regiment for Sea, 7 b. It behoveth him too be a good coaster.

a. 1642.  Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, III. (1703), 341/1. I give the Name both of Pilot and Coaster to one Man…: A bare Pilot serves only for the Port he is hired for.

1841.  D’Israeli, Amen. Lit. (1867), 12. Long it was ere the trembling coasters were certain whether Britain was an island or a continent.

  fig.  1670.  Dryden, Tyrranick Love, IV. i. In our small Skiff we must not launch too far; We here but Coasters, not Discov’rers, arc.

1691–8.  Norris, Pract. Disc. (1707), IV. 189. Some are but Coasters in this great Sea (the World).

  2.  A vessel employed in sailing along the coast, or in trading from port to port of the same country. (The usual modern sense.)

1687.  Lond. Gaz., No. 2266/2. The small Coasters having Orders not to stir out, till the way be cleared for them. Ibid. (1707), No. 4317/2. Her Majesty’s Ship the Pool, having under her Convoy several Coasters.

1801.  (11 Aug.) Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), IV. 453. Every Fishing Smack and Coaster gives one Man.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxiii. 74. His father was a skipper of a small coaster, from Bristol.

  3.  One who dwells by the sea coast.

1612.  trans. Benvenuto’s Passenger, I. iv. § 53. 311 (N.). You neuer saw, nor heard any or English man, or other coaster, or riuer man, or Ilander, vse more malicious inuentions.

1615.  Trade’s Incr., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), III. 308. Coasters, that give away our coin to the stranger for our own fish.

1888.  Daily News, 17 July, 5/3. The cocoanut and the cabbage palm grow wild, though the pampered Gold Coasters despise them.

  † 4.  One who visits or lands on a coast. Obs.

1660.  G. Fleming, Stemma Sacrum, 17. Inquilini, or Intruders, are no other than Coasters or Adventurers, that are sent forth into a Nation to sack and spoile.

  fig.  1719.  D’Urfey, Pills, V. 349. Old Coasters, Love boasters, who set up for Truth.

  † 5.  (See quot.) Obs.

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 312/1. A Coaster [is] a Keeper of a Decoy, or place to catch wild Fowl.

  6.  A low round tray or stand for a decanter (usually of silver).

  So called from ‘coasting’ or making the circuit of the table after dinner.

c. 1887.  Catal. Mallett & Son (Bath), 13. Two choicely pierced coasters.

1888.  Marg. Deland, John Ward (ed. 2), 113. The decanters in the queer old coasters.

  7.  U.S. a. One engaged in the sport of ‘coasting.’ b. A sledge or toboggan for ‘coasting.’

1881.  M. E. N. H., in Our Little Ones, 72.

1888.  Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Sept., 4/1. The Roller Coaster at the Crystal Palace has had a bad accident.

1888.  Sat. Rev., 22 Sept., 340/1. Roller coasters, switchback railways, toboggan slides, are all prodigiously popular.