Gangway

A gangway is a passage or walkway that provides access between two places, most commonly for boarding and disembarking from a vessel. The term is also used for similar passages in trains, mines, and buildings.

Maritime use: On ships and boats, the gangway is the access path from the quay to the deck. It may be a fixed ramp, a portable ramp, or a temporary walkway; when used, it is supervised and kept clear of hazards. The term gangplank is often used for a single plank that spans the gap between ship and shore.

Rail and mining: In railway terminology, a gangway is the passage or corridor between adjacent cars that allows passengers to move along a train; in some regions, this term is used for the inter-car vestibules. In mining, a gangway is a long, timber-supported underground passage used for access, ventilation, and blasting operations.

Other uses: In architecture and urban design, elevated or sheltered pedestrian passages may be described as gangways. In theatres, stadiums, and other large facilities, routes for ingress and egress are sometimes referred to as gangways.

Etymology: The word derives from combinations of meanings around going or moving along a way. The sense is a passage or route designed for convenient movement from one place to another, and the term has been used in English since the medieval period.