Coaster

Coaster as in a small tablemat for drinks or bottles first made its appearance during the 19th century. It derives from the sailing vessel that keeps close to the coast as it sails from port to port. Coaster in this sense has been around since the 16th century. The original table coaster was a small round tray that held a bottle, which was passed around the perimeter or edge of the dining table. This resembled the way the vessel of the same name hugged the coastline and so the name stuck. Thereafter it was extended to the tablemats for glasses.