Main Entry: gal·ley

Pronunciation: \ˈga-lē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural galleys

Etymology: Middle English galeie, from Anglo-French galie, galee, ultimately from Middle Greek galea

Date: 13th century

1 : a ship or boat propelled solely or chiefly by oars: as a : a long low ship used for war and trading especially in the Mediterranean Sea from the Middle Ages to the 19th century; also : galleass b : a warship of classical antiquity — compare bireme, trireme c : a large open boat (as a gig) formerly used in England
2 : the kitchen and cooking apparatus especially of a ship or airplane
3 a : an oblong tray to hold especially a single column of set type b : a proof of typeset matter especially in a single column before being made into pages

[galley illustration]