clearwayn.
/ˈklɪəweɪ/, U.S. /ˈklɪrˌweɪ/, Australian English /ˈklɪəwæe/, New Zealand English /ˈkliəwæe/ 1. An unobstructed way or route for the passage of anything; the presence of this; clear space, clearance (literal and figurative).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > [noun] > unobstructed space > for passing or being clear of something
clearance1788
clearway1837
1837 Times 30 Aug. The steam-engine was then again set to work, and last night at 9 o'clock the water was lowered 20 feet more, forming thus a clearway of 50 feet.
1862 Illustr. London News 30 Aug. 239/2 The passage for the fluid through these valves is larger than in any others of the same dimensions; they also possess the advantage of having a ‘clearway’, there being nothing whatever to retard the flow of water.
1877 Jrnl. Royal United Service Inst. 21 762 The pontoons..are fixed at distances apart of about 3 ft. 6 in., leaving sufficient space for the timber piles of the stage, and for clearway.
1927 Winona (Minnesota) Republican-Herald 28 Mar. 8/3 There must be an ample and dependable clearway of water to carry the craft of commerce.
1984 D. Hill Hist. Engin. Classical & Medieval Times (1996) ii. 41 The statutory clearway for 15 feet on either side of the channel has been encroached upon.
2013 Welwyn & Hatfield Times (Nexis) 16 Jan. At the moment we have some clearway from the bottom two in the division, and that's how we need it to stay, but obviously we want to move on up the table.
2. A path or passageway enabling access across or through something.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > track, trail, or path > [noun] > through something
through-pathc1634
clearway1893
1893 E. Mole King's Hussar xviii. 264 They were slaughtered; some in their death-leaps falling headlong over the precipice, others sinking backwards until their dead bodies blocked up the narrow clearway.
1925 Derby Daily Tel. 24 Dec. 2/5 Twice the 'bus caught the snow drifts with the result that the tail of the vehicle swung right across the clearway and effectually blocked it.
2016 Waikato Times (Hamilton, N.Z.) (Nexis) 8 Feb. 3 Another proposal is for a standardised two-metre-wide clearway down the centre of footpaths.
3. Chiefly British, Australian, and New Zealand. A road, path, etc., on which vehicles are not allowed to wait or park; esp. a main road (other than a motorway) on which stopping is strictly regulated.Such roads in built-up areas are sometimes designated as urban clearways.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > road > [noun] > for wheeled vehicles > where vehicles are not allowed to stop
clearway1959
1959 Daily Tel. 8 May 12/2 ‘Clearways’ on which parking and stopping are prohibited have long been needed.
1960 Daily Mail 3 Feb. 9/2 Rush-hour parking ban along strategic stretches of main traffic routes, these urban ‘Clearways’ to be indicated by a broad yellow line down the middle of the road.
1972 Daily Tel. 16 Mar. 17/6 The Vauxhall Viva had been towed to a pound because it was found parked on an urban clearway.
2001 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 12 May 20/4 I parked in a clearway three minutes before the time allowed.
Compounds
As a modifier. Designating a valve in a pipe that when fully open provides no obstruction to the flow; designating a pump, hydrant, etc., employing such a valve. Cf. full-way adj. Now somewhat rare.
ΚΠ
1851 Mech. Mag. 8 Mar. 200 Weekly list of designs for articles of utility registered... J. B. Davis... Roupel-street Lambeth... Clear-way valve.
1884 Western Gaz. 11 Jan. 8/3 On all new mains it was proposed to place 2½ inch clear way hydrants at all street corners.
1949 Long Beach (Calif.) Independent 4 Nov. 2/3 The contractor had substituted a tilting disk type check valve where a ‘clear way’ valve was specified.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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n.1837