gangway

From Middle English gangway, itself from Old English gangweġ, meaning 'passageway' or 'thoroughfare.' It's a compound of gang ('go' or 'walk') and way, so it literally means 'going-way' or 'walk-way.'

The Old English sense of a general passageway narrowed over time into its familiar modern use: the specific walkway or ramp used to board a ship.

It shares its root with Dutch gang and Norwegian gang, both meaning 'hallway' — all pointing back to the same idea of a way for going through.