Northwest Passage
noun
a ship route along the Arctic coast of Canada and Alaska, joining the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Origin of Northwest Passage
First recorded in 1545–55
British Dictionary definitions for northwest passage
Northwest Passage
noun
the passage by sea from the Atlantic to the Pacific along the N coast of America: attempted for over 300 years by Europeans seeking a short route to the Far East, before being successfully navigated by Amundsen (1903–06)
Cultural definitions for northwest passage
Northwest Passage
A sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through northwestern America, often sought by early explorers. There is an actual Northwest Passage, but it requires sailing through far northern waters that are icebound much of the year.