Way (vessel)

Way, (sometimes Weigh) in a nautical context of a ship or vessel, is a noun that refers to her speed or momentum.

As an example the Oxford English Dictionary, sense 14, has "She ran into the Nio before her way could be stopped." (Taken from an Admiralty report of a collision at sea).

The Practice of Navigation and Nautical Astronomy has "On the other hand, we have seen several ships break their chains by having too much way upon them".

From a mistaken association with "to weigh anchor", the noun is sometimes spelled 'weigh'; as in "She got under weigh with very little fuss" (R. H. Dana Two Years before the Mast xxiii. 236).