Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A staircase leading from a deck to the cabins or area below.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The staircase at the entrance to a ship's cabin.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun a stairway or ladder that leads from one deck to another on a ship.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun nautical a staircase or ladder from one deck to another on a ship

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a stairway or ladder that leads from one deck to another on a ship

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From companion, framed windows above a hatchway, companionway, probably alteration of obsolete Dutch kompanje, from Old French compagne, steward's cabin, storeroom, from Old Italian (camera della) compagna, (cabin for) provisions, pantry, from Vulgar Latin *compānia, things eaten with bread : Latin com-, com- + Latin pānis, bread; see companion.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

companion +‎ way

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Examples

  • "My word, some whale," Daughtry said to Ah Moy, as they emerged from the cabin companionway and gazed at this latest wreckage.

    CHAPTER XV 2010

  • Captain Glass met the first man springing up the companionway from the cabin, with a kick full in the face, but was overborne and trampled on by the rush.

    THE DEVILS OF FUATINO 2010

  • He sniffed down the forecastle hatch, sniffed into the galley where two Chinese cooks jabbered unintelligibly to him, sniffed down the cabin companionway, sniffed down the engine-room skylight and for the first time knew gasoline and engine oil; but sniff as he would, wherever he ran, no scent did he catch of Skipper.

    CHAPTER XX 2010

  • Once, polishing the brasswork on the hand-rails of the cabin companionway, Daughtry overheard the ancient one explaining his terrible scar and missing fingers to Grimshaw and the Armenian

    CHAPTER X 2010

  • "My word, some whale," Daughtry said to Ah Moy, as they emerged from the cabin companionway and gazed at this latest wreckage.

    Chapter 15 1917

  • He sniffed down the forecastle hatch, sniffed into the galley where two Chinese cooks jabbered unintelligibly to him, sniffed down the cabin companionway, sniffed down the engine-room skylight and for the first time knew gasoline and engine oil; but sniff as he would, wherever he ran, no scent did he catch of Skipper.

    Chapter 20 1917

  • Once, polishing the brasswork on the hand-rails of the cabin companionway, Daughtry overheard the ancient one explaining his terrible scar and missing fingers to Grimshaw and the Armenian

    Chapter 10 1917

  • I leave the wheel and run forward to the cabin companionway, where

    Chapter 9 1913

  • The terrier fell down the cabin companionway and lamed its nigh hind leg, then repeated the manoeuvre and lamed its off fore leg.

    Chapter 17 1913

  • We battened down the engine room hatch, and the sea rose to it and over it and climbed perilously near to the cabin companionway and skylight.

    The Joy Of Small-Boat Sailing 1912

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