\Pas"sage\, n. [F. passage. See {Pass}, v. i.]
1. The act of passing; transit from one place to another;
   movement from point to point; a going by, over, across, or
   through; as, the passage of a man or a carriage; the
   passage of a ship or a bird; the passage of light; the
   passage of fluids through the pores or channels of the
   body.

         What! are my doors opposed against my passage!
                                               --Shak.

2. Transit by means of conveyance; journey, as by water,
   carriage, car, or the like; travel; right, liberty, or
   means, of passing; conveyance.

         The ship in which he had taken passage. --Macaulay.

3. Price paid for the liberty to pass; fare; as, to pay one's
   passage.

4. Removal from life; decease; departure; death. [R.]
   ``Endure thy mortal passage.'' --Milton.

         When he is fit and season'd for his passage. --Shak.

5. Way; road; path; channel or course through or by which one
   passes; way of exit or entrance; way of access or transit.
   Hence, a common avenue to various apartments in a
   building; a hall; a corridor.

         And with his pointed dart Explores the nearest
         passage to his heart.                 --Dryden.

         The Persian army had advanced into the . . .
         passages of Cilicia.                  --South.

6. A continuous course, process, or progress; a connected or
   continuous series; as, the passage of time.

         The conduct and passage of affairs.   --Sir J.
                                               Davies.

         The passage and whole carriage of this action.
                                               --Shak.

7. A separate part of a course, process, or series; an
   occurrence; an incident; an act or deed. ``In thy passages
   of life.'' --Shak.

         The . . . almost incredible passage of their
         unbelief.                             --South.

8. A particular portion constituting a part of something
   continuous; esp., a portion of a book, speech, or musical
   composition; a paragraph; a clause.

         How commentators each dark passage shun. --Young.

9. Reception; currency. [Obs.] --Sir K. Digby.

10. A pass or en encounter; as, a passage at arms.

          No passages of love Betwixt us twain henceforward
          evermore.                            --Tennyson.

11. A movement or an evacuation of the bowels.

12. In parliamentary proceedings:
    (a) The course of a proposition (bill, resolution, etc.)
        through the several stages of consideration and
        action; as, during its passage through Congress the
        bill was amended in both Houses.
    (b) The advancement of a bill or other proposition from
        one stage to another by an affirmative vote; esp.,
        the final affirmative action of the body upon a
        proposition; hence, adoption; enactment; as, the
        passage of the bill to its third reading was delayed.
        ``The passage of the Stamp Act.'' --D. Hosack.

              The final question was then put upon its
              passage.                         --Cushing.

{In passage}, in passing; cursorily. ``These . . . have been
   studied but in passage.'' --Bacon.

{Middle passage}, {Northeast passage}, {Northwest passage}.
   See under {Middle}, {Northeast}, etc.

{Of passage}, passing from one place, region, or climate, to
   another; migratory; -- said especially of birds. ``Birds
   of passage.'' --Longfellow.

{Passage hawk}, a hawk taken on its passage or migration.

{Passage money}, money paid for conveyance of a passenger, --
   usually for carrying passengers by water.



Syn: Vestibule; hall; corridor. See {Vestibule}.