Definitions
Sorry, no definitions found. Check out and contribute to the discussion of this word!
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word give leeway.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
reesetee commented on the word give leeway
Originally a nautical term. The weather side of a ship is the side exposed to prevailing wind. The lee side is the side of the ship that's sheltered from the wind. Likewise, a lee shore is one that's downwind of a ship. To give leeway meant to give a ship enough room to prevent it from being driven onto the shore by winds.
December 11, 2007