Definition
A defined path on an airport, established for the surface movement of aircraft between runways, ramps, hangars, terminals, and other airport areas. Taxiways are typically marked with a continuous yellow centerline and may include yellow edge lines, hold-short markings, and lighted blue edge lights for night operations.
Plain English
The roads at an airport that aircraft use to move between the runway and the parking or terminal areas.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter taxiways on airport diagrams, airport signs and markings, and in ground movement instructions from air traffic control.
Derivation
From 'taxi' (the slow ground movement of an aircraft under its own power) plus 'way' (a path or route). The word 'taxi' was borrowed from the metered cabs of the early 1900s, because early aircraft moving slowly across an airfield reminded observers of taxicabs cruising for fares.
Why Pilots Care
Following taxiway markings and signs prevents runway incursions and keeps ground movement safe and orderly under ATC instructions.
Analogy
A taxiway is like the airport’s road system for aircraft. Runways are for takeoff and landing; taxiways are for getting to and from those runways.
Intuition Check
A taxiway is not a runway. It is normally for ground movement only, not for takeoff or landing.
Example Sentence 1
After landing, the pilot exited the runway and followed the yellow centerline along the taxiway to the ramp.
Example Sentence 2
The aircraft held short of the active runway at the taxiway intersection until cleared to cross.