gangway

noun

gang·​way ˈgaŋ-ˌwā How to pronounce gangway (audio)
1
: passageway
especially : a temporary way of planks
2
a
: either of the sides of the upper deck of a ship
b
: the opening by which a ship is boarded
c
3
British : aisle
4
a
: a cross aisle dividing the front benches from the backbenches in the British House of Commons
b
: an aisle in the British House of Commons that separates government and opposition benches
5
: a clear passage through a crowd
often used as an interjection

Examples of gangway in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Visible right off the main gangway for maximum shock and awe, The Pearl is three decks high, measures 50 feet in diameter, and is both an interactive artwork and integral part of the ship’s superstructure. David Dickstein, Orange County Register, 2 Feb. 2024 Martinson stood with us on a gangway, watching as logs trundled along conveyor belts and into the blades that cut them into long planks, which are then treated, kiln-dried and stress-tested. William Booth, Washington Post, 31 Oct. 2023 So high-end footwear is strewn in front of the gangways, the ubiquitous Gucci loafers jumbled together with sneakers from Dior and Balenciaga that will set you back about $1,000 a pair. William Booth, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2023 The 54-year-old sailor touched dry land for the first time Tuesday in Manzanillo, Mexico, walking down a gangway from the boat that saved him, the Maria Delia, and flashing a thumbs-up sign. Brittany Shammas, Washington Post, 19 July 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. Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 21 June 2023 Based in Chicago, du Brul does estate sales and appraisal work for individuals, researching and pricing everyday items and more remarkable ones like a ship’s gangway plank from the 1800s and a 1959 Junior Rose Bowl program signed by Jackie Robinson. Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2023 There was Rock, taking to the stage to present the next category; joking about Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruise; then another, more controversial, joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith; Smith laughing, Pinkett-Smith rolling her eyes; and then suddenly, Smith was on the gangway and striding towards Rock. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 28 Mar. 2022 There used to be a sign posted right outside an old, two-story house on the south side of 22nd Street in Chicago Heights, separated from its neighbors only by narrow gangways. Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gangway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "raised walkway on a ship," apparently from gang entry 1, in northern and Scots sense "passage" + way entry 1

Note: There is no continuity between this usage, first attested in 1688, and Old English gangweg, attested once.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gangway was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near gangway

Cite this Entry

“Gangway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangway. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gangway

noun
gang·​way ˈgaŋ-ˌwā How to pronounce gangway (audio)
1
: a passage into, through, or out of an enclosed place
2
3
: a clear passage through a crowd
often used as an interjection
Gangway! Coming through!

More from Merriam-Webster on gangway

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