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.

---

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

---

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

Gangway boards were placed at the top of a ship’s gangway as a greeting to sailors and visitors.

From Washington Post • Jan. 8, 2023

This winter, The Gangway, the oldest gay bar in town, is closing down.

From The Guardian • Feb. 2, 2016

During the Pisa visit as the King finished talking with a knot of Legionaries and turned to leave them, a U. S. voice boomed: "Gangway for the King!"

From Time Magazine Archive

What gives Gangway a slightly embarrassing quality is the earnest brightness with which its British characters mimic American parts of speech.

From Time Magazine Archive

Courtney, looking critically on form below Gangway, grimly smiled.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 104, March 4, 1893 by Burnand, F. C. (Francis Cowley), Sir