gangway

American  

[gang-wey, gang-wey] / ˈgæŋˌweɪ, ˈgæŋˈweɪ /

noun

1. a passageway, especially a narrow walkway.

2. Nautical.

   1. an opening in the railing or bulwark of a ship, as that into which a gangplank fits.

   2. a gangplank.

   3. an area of the weather deck of a ship, between the side and a deckhouse.

   4. accommodation ladder.

3. Railroads.

   1. the space between the cab of a steam locomotive and its tender.

   2. the side entrance of a diesel or electric locomotive.

4. British.

   1. an aisle in a theater, restaurant, etc.

   2. an aisle in the House of Commons separating the more influential members of the political parties from the younger, less influential members.

   3. a runway in a theater.

5. a temporary path of planks, as at a building site.

6. Mining. a main passage or level.

7. Also called logway.  the ramp up which logs are moved into a sawmill.

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interjection

1. clear the way! out of the way!

gangway British  

/ ˈɡæŋˌweɪ /

noun

1. an opening in a ship's side to take a gangplank

2. another word for gangplank

3. an aisle between rows of seats

4. Also called: logway.  a ramp for logs leading into a sawmill

5. a main passage in a mine

6. temporary planks over mud or earth, as on a building site

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1. clear a path!

Other Word Forms

• gangwayed adjective

Etymology

Origin of gangway

1680–90; gang ¹ + way ¹; not continuous with Old English gangweg

Example Sentences

Thousands of guests are also expected to visit the ship when it opens its gangway to the public for a ticketed event on 7 and 8 December.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2024

On a good day, Temple would take the gangway that connected rig to helipad and meet them there.

From Slate • Dec. 16, 2023

“Typically, there should be water right where we’re standing,” he said, perched atop dry rocks on a metal gangway that leads to the floating pumphouse.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 19, 2023

On Wednesday morning one crewman carried an umbrella up the gangway that the migrants unsteadily walked down last week, some of them met by stretchers and health workers with foil blankets.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2023

There were entry lines for each ship and additional lines for each gangway.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys