areaway

American  

[air-ee-uh-wey] / ˈɛər i əˌweɪ /

noun

1. a sunken area leading to a cellar or basement entrance, or in front of basement or cellar windows.

2. a passageway, especially one between buildings.

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areaway British  

/ ˈɛərɪəˌweɪ /

noun

1. a passageway between parts of a building or between different buildings

2. See area

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Etymology

Origin of areaway

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; area + way ¹

Example Sentences

They reached an areaway, separated from the consulate by an iron fence, just as three Russians burst out of the consulate's back door.

From Time Magazine Archive

I left the kitchen and went into the back areaway to breathe.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

Now they were guided by a woman's sharp cries issuing from an areaway.

From Peter the Brazen A Mystery Story of Modern China by Hoskins, Gayle Porter

The door to the house from the areaway was shaking to irregular, heavy blows, which stopped as Alan reached the lower hallway; the shouts continued still a moment more.

From The Indian Drum by Balmer, Edwin

All this while, across the street, in the shadow of an areaway, stood a man in a mackintosh and a felt hat drawn well down.

From The Pagan Madonna by Koerner, W. H. D. (William Henry Dethlef)