A Coast or Shore.
Inland.
14. A Coast or Shore is that part of land which borders upon the sea, whether it be in islands or a continent: And that part of the land which is far distant from the sea, is called the Inland Country. These are the usual distinctions of the land.
The Water is distinguished into Oceans, Seas, Lakes, Gulfs, Straits, and Rivers.
The Ocean, or Main Sea.
15. The Ocean, or Main Sea, is a vast spreading collection of water, not divided or separated by lands running between; such is the Atlantic or Western Ocean; between Europe and America; the Pacific Ocean, or South Sea, &c.
Note, Those parts of the ocean which border upon the land, are called by various names, according to those of the adjacent countries; as, the British Sea, the Irish Sea, the French and Spanish Sea.
A Lake.
16. A Lake is a collection of deep standing water, inclosed all round with land, and not having any visible and open communication with the sea: But when this lake is very large, it is commonly called a sea; as the Caspian Sea in Asia, &c.
A Gulf.
Creek or Haven.
17. A Gulf is a part of the sea almost encompassed with land, or that which runs up a great way into the land; as, the Gulf of Venice, &c. But if it be very large, ’tis rather called an Inland Sea; as the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, or the Arabian Gulf, &c. And a small part of sea thus environed with land is usually called a Bay. If it be but a very small Part, or, as it were, a small arm of the sea, that runs but a few miles between the land, it is called a Creek or Haven.