byway

See also: by-way

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English bywey, equivalent to by- +‎ way.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbaɪweɪ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɪweɪ

Noun

byway (plural byways)

  1. A road or track not following a main route; a secondary or minor road or path.
    Hypernym: way
    Hyponyms: byroad, bystreet, bylane
    Near-synonyms: back road, back street, back lane
  2. A road that is not frequently travelled.
    Coordinate term: backwater
  3. (by extension) a little-known or arcane field of study or detail.
    Coordinate term: backwater
    • 2013 September 14, Jane Shilling, “The Golden Thread: the Story of Writing, by Ewan Clayton, review [print edition: Illuminating language]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review)‎[1], page R29:
      Though his account of written communication over the past 5,000 years necessarily has a powerful forward momentum, his diversions down the fascinating byways of the subject are irresistible ...

Derived terms

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