deck passage

American  

noun

1. overnight accommodation on a vessel other than in a regular sleeping space.

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Other Word Forms

• deck passenger
  noun

Etymology

Origin of deck passage

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

Here he obtained a loan of fifteen dollars and took deck passage on a boat to Louisville, going thence to Shipping Port to see his son Victor.

From John James Audubon by Burroughs, John

Montreal to Quebec, by steam-boat, 180 miles, cabin, found, 1 pound, 5 shillings; deck passage, not found, 7 shillings 6 pence.

From The Backwoods of Canada Being Letters From The Wife of an Emigrant Officer, Illustrative of the Domestic Economy of British America by Traill, Catharine Parr Strickland

As on the diligence he took an outside and plebeian seat, so, with the same secret motive of preserving unsuspected the character assumed, he took a deck passage in the packet.

From Israel Potter by Melville, Herman

My father also went with us, and so did Mr. Willard and his wife, the whole party taking deck passage on a Mississippi steamer, and arriving at St. Paul in the month of August.

From Reminiscences The Story of an Emigrant by Mattson, Hans

The men of the Twenty-sixth were in the hold of the vessel while the Twenty-fifth men took a deck passage which we didn't appreciate especially at this season of the year, December 6th.

From The Twenty-fifth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion History, Reminiscences, Description of Battle of Irish Bend, Carrying of Pay Roll, Roster by Bissell, George P.