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coastwise

coastwise

1 7.7
Near the coast, describing ships or goods moving close to land
  • adjective
  • /ˈkoʊstˌwaɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : costero
  • He enjoys coastwise travel, taking cruises that offer beautiful views of the shoreline.

Examples

  • The company specializes in coastwise shipping, ensuring goods are transported safely along the coastline.

  • Word is the Navy Department wants this new Ericsson boat to protect the coastwise shipping against rebel attacks. "No!" exclaimed Reynolds, a look of horror and betrayal on his face.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The picture he painted of a coastwise spread of humans along the shores of the Indian Ocean could be applied to either.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The regulations apply to all coastwise vessels that transport cargo within a designated distance from the shore.

Synonyms

coastally
vscoastwise
3.9

Near the coast or by the sea

focuses on movement or transport along the shoreline rather than general location
alongshore
vscoastwise
7.0

In a direction along the shore or coast

covers being near the shore and sea transport close to land

Antonyms

141 3.7

At sea away from the land

Surface Forms

coastwise positive

Morphology

coastwise = coast (transparent) = coast + wise

Formed from the familiar noun 'coast' plus the productive suffix '-wise' meaning 'in the direction or manner of', so learners who know 'coast' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Coastwise comes from the everyday word coast (the land by the sea) plus the ending -wise, which means 'in the way of' or 'toward'. So coastwise describes something moving along or close to the coast, which is why we talk about coastwise shipping or coastwise winds.