passage 的词源

“位于西印度群岛与非洲西海岸之间的大西洋部分”，1788年，在反对跨大西洋奴隶贸易的运动中提出，来源于 middle（形容词）+ passage。

It is clear that none of the unfortunate people, perhaps at this moment on board, can stand upright, but that they must sit down, and contract their limbs within the limits of little more than three square feet, during the whole of the middle passage. I cannot compare the scene on board this vessel, to any other than that of a pen of sheep; with this difference only, that the one have the advantages of a wholesome air, while that, which the others breathe, is putrid. [Thomas Clarkson, "An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species," 1788]

很明显，船上这些不幸的人，或许此刻正身处其中，无法站立，只能坐下，将四肢缩成不超过三平方英尺的空间，整个中途旅程都是如此。我无法将这艘船上的场景与其他任何场景相比，唯一的不同是，羊圈里的羊呼吸的是新鲜空气，而他们所呼吸的空气则是腐臭的。[托马斯·克拉克森，《论人类奴役与贸易的论文》，1788年]

1640年代，在美式英语中指“提供交流手段的道路、通道或小径”，由 passage（通道）和 way（道路）组合而成。到1846年，这个词还被用来指“建筑物中的走廊”。