slipway

[ slip-wey ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. (in a shipyard) the area sloping toward the water, on which the ways way ways are located.
2. marine railway.
3. a ramp on a factory ship for hauling aboard carcasses of whales for processing.

slipway

/ ˈslɪpˌweɪ /

noun

1. the sloping area in a shipyard, containing the ways
2. Also calledmarine railway the ways on which a vessel is launched
3. the ramp of a whaling factory ship
4. a pillowcase; pillowslip

Word History and Origins

Origin of slipway¹

First recorded in 1830–40; slip ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

Then she drew him away, over stock and stone, in a slanting path to the slipway, where the people stood like a wall.

From Project Gutenberg

A motor-boat left the slipway, and we were towed ingloriously ashore at about 11 o'clock.

From Project Gutenberg

At ten minutes to seven we sighted land and twenty minutes after we were resting on the water in front of Yarmouth slipway.

From Project Gutenberg

Master Calvin, seated astride the low wall above the slipway, almost rolled off his perch with laughter.

From Project Gutenberg

Rosewarne could not challenge him without raising the whole question of the slipway.

From Project Gutenberg