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Glite Dictionary
sea ladder

sea ladder

6.5
A ladder lowered from a ship to let people climb aboard from the water or a small boat
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : escalera de mar
  • The sailors quickly lowered the sea ladder so the pilot could board the vessel.

Examples

  • During the drill, each crew member took a turn climbing up the sea ladder.

  • A rope sea ladder was used when the ship anchored far from the shore.

  • The crew lowered the sea ladder for the passengers.

  • Many boats use a sea ladder to help swimmers get back on board.

  • The crew lowered the sea ladder to help the passengers get aboard after swimming in the ocean.

  • After a long day of sailing, they used the sea ladder to easily climb back onto the yacht.

  • She waited at the edge of the boat for the sea ladder to be dropped so she could join her friends in the water.

Synonyms

rope ladder
vssea ladder
4 3.4

A ladder made of ropes and wooden steps used when a regular ladder cannot be used

is specifically the ladder lowered to allow boarding from sea or another vessel
sea steps
vssea ladder
7.5

A ladder that hangs over the side of a ship to help people climb aboard from the water

is the nautical phrase naming that ladder used for boarding from water
accommodation ladder
vssea ladder
  • Specialized
8.2

A portable stair that hangs over the side of a ship to let people get to a boat or pier

is focused on ladders lowered over the side for boarding from sea or vessel
pilot ladder
vssea ladder
  • Specialized
6.3

A rope ladder with wooden or metal steps that you use to board a ship from a small boat

is the general ladder for boarding from sea or another vessel used by any crew
jack ladder
vssea ladder
  • Specialized
9.4

A rope or chain with steps used to climb between a ship and small boats

is the broad term for ladders lowered to allow coming aboard from water
Jacob's ladder
vssea ladder
8.8

A hanging ladder made of rope or chain with wooden rungs used on ships

is the general ladder lowered over the side for boarding from sea

How Safe

gangway
6 6.4
sea ladder
  • Specialized
6.5
rope ladder
4 3.4

Surface Forms

sea ladder singular
sea ladders plural

Morphology

sea + ladder

The meaning is a direct, literal composition of 'sea' (body of saltwater) + 'ladder' (climbing frame) referring to a ladder used at sea or over the side of a ship. This noun–noun compound follows common, cross-linguistic composition patterns and would be readily inferable by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Sea ladder comes from life on ships: it is a ladder lowered into the sea so people can climb up and get on board. That's why it means 'a ladder used to get on a ship from the water or from another boat'.