byway

See also: by-way

English

Alternative forms

• by-way, byeway

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

• restricted byway