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

Explanation

A walkway or passage, particularly one that's temporary or portable, is a gangway. After all that flooding, we may have to build a wooden gangway to get across the muddy field to the chicken coop. The planks rescue workers use to scale the rubble from an earthquake are one type of gangway. Another is the corridor you walk down as you board an airplane or a cruise ship. And the platforms connecting two train cars are also called gangways. This word stems from an old-fashioned definition of gang, "a going, journey, way, or passage." In the early 20th century, gangway was also a common command meaning "clear the way!"

Example Sentences

Holding the Euro 2025 trophy, skipper Leah Williamson was the first player to emerge from the plane, walking down the stairs of the gangway alongside head coach Sarina Wiegman.

From BBC • Jul. 28, 2025

Without glancing back, he took the gangway up to the helipad.

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

As they reached the head of the gangway, Lord Roke felt her stumble and cry out in alarm, and felt the jar as the guard’s arm caught her.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman