sea ladder

American  

noun

1. a set of rungs fixed to the side of a vessel, forming a ladder from the weather deck to the water line.

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sea ladder British  

noun

1. a rope ladder, set of steps, etc, by which a boat may be boarded at sea

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Etymology

Origin of sea ladder

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

The cutter came alongside, a few minutes later, and Seaman Daniel Davis ran up the sea ladder, leaped through the rope railing and came to attention before the commander of the battleship.

From The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers by Patchin, Frank Gee

This delayed him somewhat in getting down the sea ladder, performing the feat with one free hand being rather awkward.

From The Battleship Boys at Sea Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy by Patchin, Frank Gee

As the ship was getting under way, a young man in "whites" and a sun helmet, an agent of a trading company, went down the sea ladder by which I was leaning.

From The Congo and Coasts of Africa by Davis, Richard Harding

They piled down the sea ladder, taking their places in the small boat.

From The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers by Patchin, Frank Gee