Coastie

noun

Coast·​ie ˈkō-stē How to pronounce Coastie (audio)
plural Coasties
chiefly US, informal
: a member of a coast guard
specifically : a member of the U.S. Coast Guard
When a retired Coastie like me opens a book that presumes to tell the story of the U.S. Coast Guard, it is usually with more than a little trepidation. Howard Thorsen, United States Naval Institute: Proceedings, November 2009

Word History

Etymology

coast (guard) + -ie

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Coastie was in 1871

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Coastie

Cite this Entry

“Coastie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Coastie. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!