cabotage

[ kab-uh-tij, kab-uh-tahzh ]

noun

1. navigation or trade along the coast.
2. Aviation. the legal restriction to domestic carriers of air transport between points within a country's borders.

cabotage

/ ˈkæbəˌtɑːʒ /

noun

1. nautical coastal navigation or shipping, esp within the borders of one country
2. reservation to a country's carriers of its internal traffic, esp air traffic

Word History and Origins

Origin of cabotage¹

1825–35; < French, derivative of caboter to sail coastwise, verbal derivative of Middle French cabo < Spanish cabo headland, cape ²; -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of cabotage¹

C19: from French, from caboter to sail near the coast, apparently from Spanish cabo cape ²

Example Sentences

“The Uluburun ship represented long-distance interregional elite exchange, and the Cape Gelidonya ship was involved in local coastal cabotage, or opportunistic trade, where goods and services were purchased and sold at ports for quick profit.”

From New York Times

The reform is expected to pass Congress soon, after a proposal to allow "cabotage," a rare practice permitting international airlines to open domestic routes, was removed from the text.

From Reuters

That has caused alarm, as has a measure to allow "cabotage," or give foreign airlines clearance to operate domestic routes within Mexico.

From Reuters

One such proposal would allow "cabotage," a rare practice allowing foreign carriers to open domestic routes in the country.

From Reuters

On Thursday, Lopez Obrador filed a reform to Mexico's aviation law which would allow "cabotage," or permitting international airlines to operate domestic flights within the country.

From Reuters