accommodation ladder

American  

noun

1. a portable flight of steps, usually having a small platform at each end, suspended at the side of a vessel to give access to and from boats alongside.

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accommodation ladder British  

noun

1. nautical a flight of stairs or a ladder for lowering over the side of a ship for access to and from a small boat, pier, etc

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Etymology

Origin of accommodation ladder

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accommodation ladder

Somers directed the coxswain of the first cutter to pull in to the accommodation ladder of the steamer.

From Brave Old Salt or, Life on the Quarter Deck by Optic, Oliver

As he went down the accommodation ladder an idea occurred to me.

From The Kidnapped President by Boothby, Guy Newell

I took his hand from one of the chiefs who had assisted him up the accommodation ladder, and led him to the cabin.

From Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island by Hall, Basil

A boat was pulled up to the accommodation ladder.

From With Cochrane the Dauntless by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

Without waiting for a reply, he sprang forward to the head of the accommodation ladder and shinned down it into the launch.

From A Traitor's Wooing by Hill, Headon