noun
- staircases or ladders on a ship that connect different decks
Usage: nautical; plural form
Examples
- The sailors climbed down the companionways to reach the lower deck.
- Emergency lighting illuminated all companionways during the drill.
- The ship’s companionways were steep and narrow.
- Crew members used the companionways to move between decks quickly.
- The companionways were equipped with handrails for safety.
- Water had flooded the lower companionways during the storm.