alley

¹al·ley

noun \ˈa-lē\

plural alleys

Definition of ALLEY

1

: a garden or park walk bordered by trees or bushes

2

a (1) : a grassed enclosure for bowling or skittles (2) : a hardwood lane for bowling; also : a room or building housing a group of such lanes

b : the space on each side of a tennis doubles court between the sideline and the service sideline

c : an area in a baseball outfield between two outfielders when they are in normal positions

3

: a narrow street; especially : a thoroughfare through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings

— up one's alley also down one's alley

: suited to one's own tastes or abilities

Origin of ALLEY

Middle English, from Anglo-French alee, from aler to go

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Baseball Terms

cleanup, nightcap, safety, save, shag

Rhymes with ALLEY

bally, challis, dally, galley, gally, mallee, pally, rally, sally, Schally, tally, valley

²alley

noun

plural alleys

Definition of ALLEY

: a playing marble; especially : one of superior quality

Origin of ALLEY

by shortening and alteration from alabaster

First Known Use: 1720

Rhymes with ALLEY

rally, sally, tally