revenue cutter

Origin of revenue cutter

First recorded in 1780–90

The yacht was outside of the smuggler, about two miles to the westward, and about five or six miles from the revenue-cutter.

The Three Cutters |Captain Frederick Marryat
Because when I last heard of it it was on board a vessel that had just been seized by a revenue-cutter.

Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest Coast |Kirk Munroe
Such are the three persons who are now sitting in the cabin of the revenue-cutter, drinking hot gin-toddy.

The Three Cutters |Captain Frederick Marryat
Alaric instantly recognized the man as an officer of the revenue-cutter that had so persistently chased them in the early summer.

Rick Dale, A Story of the Northwest Coast |Kirk Munroe

We passed the revenue-cutter; she came alongside, but they had nothing to do there, and no one came on board.

Farthest North |Fridtjof Nansen

revenue cutter

a small lightly armed boat used to enforce customs regulations and catch smugglers