Where does “coastwise” come from?

Coastwise derives from Middle English -wis, Old French coste meaning "rib or side," Latin costa, and Proto-Indo-European kost-.

coastwise (English): Along the coast

Definitions

  1. Along the coast

Ancestry of “coastwise”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcoastThe edge of the land where it meets an ocean,...
2Middle Englishcoste—
3Old Frenchcostéside
4Latincostātusribbed
5Latincostaa rib; a side, a wall
6Proto-Indo-Europeankost-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kost- →
coastwise — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer