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gangplank

American  
[gang-plangk] / ˈgæŋˌplæŋk /

noun

  1. a flat plank or small, movable, bridgelike structure for use by persons boarding or leaving a ship at a pier.

gangplank British  
/ ˈɡæŋˌplæŋk /

noun

  1. nautical a portable bridge for boarding and leaving a vessel at dockside

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gangplank

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; gang 1 + plank

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jack said he watched me until my feet disappeared over the gangplank …

From Seattle Times • Dec. 7, 2023

One outside Fort Worth built a gangplank 22 feet above an arcade floor — walk it if you dare.

From New York Times • May 31, 2023

As the Canberra repatriated the PoWs to Puerto Madryn - the Welsh-speaking enclave of Argentina - in July 1982, a Navy photographer captured Irfon and Giorgio sharing a heartfelt goodbye handshake on the gangplank.

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2022

In a way, Harry and Meghan have done them a favor by jumping ship, rather than being asked to walk the gangplank.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2021

He relaxed and walked down the gangplank with his usual ease.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.