rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryghatWaterside steps
noun

ghat

GAHT/ɡɑːt/

Steps leading down to water in South Asia.

The stone ghat descends into the river beside a moored boat.

A broad flight of worn stone steps descends directly into a river, with the lowest steps partly submerged and a small wooden boat moored alongside the landing.
Etymology
ghatSanskritlanding place

Sanskrit ghaṭṭa meant “landing place”; Hindi also used the word for a stairway rising from a river. The English sense identifies those river-access steps. The Sanskrit word’s deeper origin is unknown.

More examples

  • Boats wait beside the ghat for passengers.
  • The town's ghats lead down to the lake.
  • We sit on the ghat and watch the river.

Forms

ghat · ghats

Similar words

steps
Steps can occur anywhere, not just beside South Asian waters.
staircase
A staircase need not lead to water or be outdoors.