[kohst-gahrdz-muh
n] 
| 1. | 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. |
| 2. | (lowercase) any similar organization for aiding navigation, preventing smuggling, etc. |
| 3. | (lowercase) Also called coastguardsman. a member of any such organization. |
| coast·guards·man (kōst'gärdz'mən) n. A member of a coast guard. |