(1) Any coast and contiguous body of water which, for historical reasons, has become known as a bay.

(2) In international law, a bay over which there has been an exclusive assertion of sovereignty by a coastal nation, and an acquiescence by foreign (i.e., other) governments. It is sometimes required also that the bay have historically been known as such. Historic bays are well recognised exceptions to the rules applicable to ordinary bays and neither the semicircular rule nor the 10 mile limitation applies. Delaware and Chesapeake Bays are examples of historic bays in the United States of America.