coaster

Meaning

Noun

• A person who originates from or inhabits a coastal area.
• A prostitute, especially one of European descent, plying her trade in Chinese port towns.
• (“the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in Lake Superior and Maine”).
• Agent noun of coast: one who coasts.
• Something that coasts or is used to coast.

Origin

• . Coast is derived from Middle English coste, from Old French coste (modern French côte), from Latin costa, from Proto-Indo-European *kost-.
• . from Anglo-Norman, Old French costoier (modern French côtoyer), from Latin costicāre, from costa; see further at etymology 1.
• Sense 2.1 (“small stand or tray”) is from the fact that the object and the decanter or wine bottle on it “coast” or travel around a tabletop from person to person. Sense 2.2.2 (“useless compact disc or DVD”) refers to the fact that the object is only useful as a drink coaster.