'stairway' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'stair' combined with 'way', where 'stair' meant 'a step' and 'way' meant 'a path or route'.

'stair' combined with 'way' in Middle English to form 'stairway', eventually becoming the modern English word 'stairway'.

Initially, it meant 'a path of steps', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.