Coaster

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkəʊstə/

Definitions

1. A small flat object placed under a drink to protect a surface from moisture or heat ; a modest-sized ship that operates near the shore, typically used for short-distance cargo or passenger transport along coasts
2. An item used under cups and glasses to prevent table damage from spills or heat ; a coastal vessel designed for short sea voyages and local shipping duties
3. A flat pad for resting cups to safeguard furniture from dampness or stains ; a small boat built for navigating coastal waters and transporting goods or people between nearby ports

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "coaster" is that the two senses come from different verbs. The drink mat and the coastal ship both trace back to "coast" in its various forms, but the ship sense grew from the noun for the land's edge, while the mat sense grew from a different verb entirely, "to coast," meaning to glide along without adding energy, as a sled does when it slides downhill. The noun "coast" itself has a physical origin. It descends from Middle English "coste," meaning rib or side of the body, and before that from Old French "coste" and Latin "costa," also meaning rib or side, and even the side of a wall. The sense of land along the sea came through a shift from the idea of a side or edge, so a coastal ship is literally a vessel that keeps to the edge of the land. The drink mat takes its name from the verb. A tray or bottle stand that let a decanter glide around a table became a "coaster," and the word was later applied to the small mat itself. Rollercoasters inherited the name the same way, through the idea of gliding downhill without effort.

Synonyms: roller coaster, slide, sledge, toboggan