1. A portion of a road crossed by a shallow stream.
a. 1631. Donne, Serm., civ. (1649), II. 195. He that hath not been accustomed to a sin, but exercised in resisting it, will finde many tentations, but as a wash way that he can trot thorough, and goe forward religiously in his Calling for all them.
1766. Ann. Reg., 66. Yesterday morning … the North mail cart, going through Tottenham Washway, was under water.
1804. Aston’s Manch. Guide, 17. The cart road through Hanging-ditch was through a wash-way, so narrow, that only one cart could pass at once.
† b. To make wash-way of, with: to make light of, make short work of. Cf. WASH-WORK 1.
1642. D. Rogers, Naaman, 32. But man heares like the Adder with a deafe eare: she makes wash-way with patience, word conscience and all. Ibid., 298. A common servant makes wash way of his service; lookes at his Master for his owne ends. Ibid., 618. Made wash-way of all sorts of performances, and made them common things.
2. A road deeper in the middle than at the sides.
1790. W. H. Marshall, Midl. Co., I. 44. A ‘wash-way road.’
1808. T. Batchelor, Agric. Bedford, 588. The form of the roads is generally convex, and the few concave or wash-ways that may be observed, seem [etc.].
