the United States Coast Guard
/ðə juˌnaɪtɪd steɪts ˈkəʊst ɡɑːd/
/ðə juˌnaɪtɪd steɪts ˈkəʊst ɡɑːrd/
- the US military service that was controlled by the US Department of Transportation until 2003 and is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. It was first established in 1790 and received its present name in 1915. The Coast Guard stops ships suspected of carrying drugs and other illegal goods, and can make arrests. It also keeps watch to see that other laws of the sea are obeyed and rescues people and ships in danger.