fairway

plural fairways

1. golfThe area between the tee and the green, where the grass is cut short.
2. Any tract of land free from obstacles.
3. governmentA channel either from offshore, in a river, or in a harbor that has enough depth to accommodate the draft of large vessels. (JP 4-01.6)
4. nauticalA navigable channel in a harbour, offshore etc; the usual course taken by vessels in such places.

   Lights of ships moved in the fairway—a great stir of lights going up and going down.

   1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I

   2 more examples

   By good fortune, paddle as I pleased, the tide was still sweeping me down; and there lay the Hispaniola right in the fairway, hardly to be missed.

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC

   This gives clearance for shipping of 95 ft. between high water and the underneath side of the roadway when raised. A clear fairway of 95 ft. width also is provided.

   1960 June 28, “New Lifting Bridge at Kings Ferry”, in Railway Magazine, page 388