headway
noun/ˈhɛdweɪ/
Etymology Partly from Middle English hauedwei, from Old English hēafodweġ (“head-road, main-road”); partly as a shortening of ahead-way, the source of the nautical sense. By surface analysis, head + way.
1
A movement ahead or forward.
3
Transport The interval of time or distance between the fronts of two vehicles (e.g. buses) moving in succession in the same direction, especially along the same predetermined route.
- The whole of the main lines to be electrified were being equipped with four-aspect colour-light signals, automatically operated, where appropriate, and spaced to give a 5min headway throughout.1961 December, “Planning the London Midland main-line electrification”, in Trains Illustrated, page 719:
- Sixty minutes divided by the headway gives a potential figure for 'trains per hour' - the simplest possible and most simplistic definition of capacity, termed line capacity.2019 October, William Barter, “West Coast capacity study”, in Modern Railways, page 66:
4
Figuratively Progress toward a goal.
5
The clearance beneath an object, such as an arch, ceiling or bridge; headroom.
- So as not to impede navigation the two principal spans of the bridge were designed to provide a clear headway of 157 ft. above high water for a distance of 500 ft.; [...].1941 January, the late John Phillimore, “The Forth Bridge 1890-1940”, in Railway Magazine, page 5:
- Derived terms
- make headway
- Related terms
- seaway