LEEWAY

allowance, leeway, margin, tolerance

(noun) a permissible difference; allowing some freedom to move within limits

leeway

(noun) (of a ship or plane) sideways drift

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

leeway (countable and uncountable, plural leeways)

The drift of a ship or airplane in a leeward direction.

A varying degree or amount of freedom or flexibility; margin, latitude, elbowroom.

(British) An adverse discrepancy or variation in a cumulative process, usually in the phrase make up leeway.

Synonyms

• (varying degree or amount of freedom): freedom, flexibility, latitude, wiggle room

Source: Wiktionary

Lee"way`, n. (Naut.)

Definition: The lateral movement of a ship to the leeward of her course; drift.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition