a ladder used in boarding or leaving a ship; also, a kind of embroidery stitch.

a bridge capable of being lowered into position; (formerly also) †a drawbridge (obsolete).

a plank used as part of a gangway.

With qualifying words indicating its use, construction, position, etc., as fire ladder, extension ladder, rope ladder, scaling ladder, stepladder…

a ladder fitted to the side of a boat or vehicle; spec. = accommodation ladder n. at accommodation, n. compounds 2.

= gangplank, n. Cf. gangway, n. 5b.

a ladder providing a means of entering or leaving a ship.

A plank, often with cleats fixed at intervals along it, used as a temporary ramp or walkway to enable people to board or disembark from a ship or…

(see quots.).

†(a) a gangplank (obsolete); (b) Weaving the board on which a shuttle slides (cf. sense 8a).

A plank or ramp used as a temporary walkway to enable people to board or disembark from a ship or boat; a gangplank. Also (in later use): a…

(See quot.)

Nautical. A gangplank, a boarding ramp.