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

Example Sentences

“An initial inspection by the crew indicates that damage to the vessel’s gangway is limited, and the vessel has remained stable and underway on a course out of the area.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 17, 2024

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

From Slate • Dec. 16, 2023

Other reports said that, while the barge had three fire exits, one was not operational because it was at the end of a gangway that had been deemed too steep to be safely used.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 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

He pushed the stack of papers back at me and gave a nod toward the gangway.

From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys