Coast Guard

noun

U.S. Military. a military service under the Department of Transportation, which in peacetime enforces maritime laws, saves lives and property at sea, and maintains aids to navigation, and which in wartime may be placed under the Navy Department to augment the navy.

(lowercase) any similar organization for aiding navigation, preventing smuggling, etc.

(lowercase) Also called coastguardsman. a member of any such organization.

Origin of Coast Guard

First recorded in 1825–35

Examples from the Web for coast guard

Lots of people seem to forget that the lighthouse-keeper is not the coast-guard or the head of the crew of a life-saving station.
Some Naval Yarns|Mordaunt Hall
They delivered him at the coast-guard station to be turned over to the authorities.
The Flying Death|Samuel Hopkins Adams
There was a terrible devil of a coast-guard kept all the while firing at me with as much obstinacy as awkwardness.
Wood Rangers|Mayne Reid
So when the coast-guard came alongside of them they surrendered.
Historic Boyhoods|Rupert Sargent Holland

"We'll want all you boys to help this time," said the Captain of the coast-guard, for such he proved to be.
Harper's Young People, June 28, 1881|Various