Extra space or freedom to move or make changes, or the sideways drift of a ship away from its intended course.
From Dutch 'lijwaai,' combining 'lij' (lee, the sheltered side) and 'waai' (way). Originally a nautical term describing how much a ship drifted sideways, later generalized to mean any margin for flexibility or error.
Sailors invented this word because their ships never went exactly where they aimed—the wind and waves pushed them sideways! Today we use it whenever we need breathing room in a deadline or budget, making it one of sailing's greatest gifts to everyday language.
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