different between gangway vs stairway

English

Etymology

From Middle English gangway, from Old English gangwe? (“passageway; thoroughfare”), equivalent to gang +? way. Related to Dutch gang (“hallway”) and Norwegian gang (“hallway”).

Noun

gangway (plural gangways)

1. A passageway through which to enter or leave, such as one between seating areas in an auditorium, or between two buildings.
2. An articulating bridge or ramp, such as from land to a dock or a ship.
3. A temporary passageway, such as one made of planks.
4. (rare, obsolete outside dialects) A clear path through a crowd or a passageway with people.
5. (Britain) An aisle.
6. (nautical) A passage along either side of a ship's upper deck.
7. (nautical) A passage through the side of a ship or an opening in the railing through which the ship may be boarded.
8. (agricultural) An earthen and plank ramp leading from the stable yard into the upper storey or mow of a dairy barn.
9. (Chicago) The narrow space between two buildings or houses, used to access the backyard/alleyway from the front.
10. A passageway through a passenger car

Synonyms

• (narrow space between two buildings): See Thesaurus:alley

Hyponyms

• (enclosed corridor between an airport and plane): See jet bridge

Related terms

• gangplank
• gangboard

Translations

Verb

gangway (third-person singular simple present gangways, present participle gangwaying, simple past and past participle gangwayed)

1. To serve as, furnish with, or conduct oneself as though proceeding on a gangway.

Interjection

gangway

1. (to a crowd) Make way! Clear a path!
   • 1934, P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins, p 157:

     And he pushed his way through the crowd crying, "Gangway, gangway!" and dragging Jane and Michael after him.

Translations

English

Etymology

stair +? way

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?st??we?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?st??we?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)we?

Noun

stairway (plural stairways)

1. A set of steps, with or without a case, that allow one to walk up or down.

Synonyms

• staircase
• stairs

Related terms

• stair
• stairwell

Translations