Not in DARE

[Wilson Gray]

The other day, I heard a local newsreader speak of the "gangway" of a ship.
Obviously, what was meant was "gangplank."

DARE has "gangway" as railroader and logger jargon. However, in St. Louis, a
"gangway" is a narrow, paved space between two buildings that permits
passage from the front of one of the buildings to the back of it. In
residential neighborhoods, the gangway connects to the front walk of a
residedence and permits passage from the frontyard of that residence to its
backyard. As you face a house, the gangway to the right leads to the
backyard of that house, whereas the gangway to the left leads to the
backyard of the neighboring house. Adolescent boys use these for tom-peeping
and males of all ages use them as emergency urinals, much to the annoyance
of the homeowners.
--
-Wilson Gray