English

manway

From man + way.

A compound of man + way

Proto-Germanic *mann- ‘human being, person, man’

Proto-West Germanic *mann ‘person’

Old English mann ‘human being, person, man’

Middle English man

English man

Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- ‘to bring’

Proto-Germanic *wegaz

Proto-West Germanic *weg ‘way’

Old English weġ

Middle English way

English way

Today it means

noun A hole or duct giving access to a utility area for maintenance purposes.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.