What is "gang plank"

Gang \Gang\, n. [Icel. gangr a going, gang, akin to AS., D., G., & Dan. gang a going, Goth. gaggs street, way. See Gang, v. i.]

1. A going; a course. [Obs.]

2. A number going in company; hence, a company, or a number of persons associated for a particular purpose; a group of laborers under one foreman; a squad; as, a gang of sailors; a chain gang; a gang of thieves.

3. A combination of similar implements arranged so as, by acting together, to save time or labor; a set; as, a gang of saws, or of plows.

4. (Naut.) A set; all required for an outfit; as, a new gang of stays.

5. [Cf. Gangue.] (Mining) The mineral substance which incloses a vein; a matrix; a gangue.

6. A group of teenagers or young adults forming a more or less formalized group associating for social purposes, in some cases requiring initiation rites to join; as, a teen gang; a youth gang; a street gang.

   Note: Youth gangs often associate with particular areas in a city, and may turn violent when they feel their territory is encroached upon. In Los Angeles the Crips and the Bloods are large gangs antagonistic to each other.

7. A group of persons organized for criminal purposes; a criminal organization; as, the Parker gang. Gang board, or Gang plank. (Naut.)

   1. A board or plank, with cleats for steps, forming a bridge by which to enter or leave a vessel.

   2. A plank within or without the bulwarks of a vessel's waist, for the sentinel to walk on.

      Gang cask, a small cask in which to bring water aboard ships or in which it is kept on deck.

      Gang cultivator, Gang plow, a cultivator or plow in which several shares are attached to one frame, so as to make two or more furrows at the same time.

      Gang days, Rogation days; the time of perambulating parishes. See Gang week (below).

      Gang drill, a drilling machine having a number of drills driven from a common shaft.

      Gang master, a master or employer of a gang of workmen.

      Gang plank. See Gang board (above).

      Gang plow. See Gang cultivator (above).

      Gang press, a press for operating upon a pile or row of objects separated by intervening plates.

      Gang saw, a saw fitted to be one of a combination or gang of saws hung together in a frame or sash, and set at fixed distances apart.

      Gang tide. See Gang week (below).

      Gang tooth, a projecting tooth. [Obs.]
      --Halliwell.

      Gang week, Rogation week, when formerly processions were made to survey the bounds of parishes.
      --Halliwell.

      Live gang, or Round gang, the Western and the Eastern names, respectively, for a gang of saws for cutting the round log into boards at one operation.
      --Knight.

      Slabbing gang, an arrangement of saws which cuts slabs from two sides of a log, leaving the middle part as a thick beam.