slipway

American  

[slip-wey] / ˈslɪpˌweɪ /

noun

Nautical.

1. (in a shipyard) the area sloping toward the water, on which the ways way ways are located.

2. marine railway.

3. a ramp on a factory ship for hauling aboard carcasses of whales for processing.

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slipway British  

/ ˈslɪpˌweɪ /

noun

1. the sloping area in a shipyard, containing the ways

2. Also called: marine railway.  the ways on which a vessel is launched

3. the ramp of a whaling factory ship

4. a pillowcase; pillowslip

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Etymology

Origin of slipway

First recorded in 1830–40; slip ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

Buckler's Hard, the small hamlet in the New Forest where the slipway is located, was once home to one of the busiest private shipyards of the 1700s.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2025

Around the same time, the third team launched from the Teal Park slipway near Auckland’s container terminal.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025

Police asked anyone with any information or dashcam footage of the crash, which took place near the Pennygillam slipway, to contact them.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2024

As well as an enlarged slipway and areas where companies can build and store devices and components, developers have also created new workboat pontoons, office and workshop facilities.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2024

You started a marble off at the top, and it rolled round and round, down the slipway on the outside, until it got to the bottom, and then dropped into a chute.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill