galley

noun

gal·​ley ˈga-lē 

plural galleys

1

: a ship or boat propelled solely or chiefly by oars: such 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 (such 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

Illustration of galley

• galley 1a

Examples of galley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Art in the Kitchen This galley kitchen might look too pristine to cook in, but there's something welcoming about displaying art in a kitchen. —Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2025

The open-concept space includes a galley kitchen with a breakfast bar and glossy stone floors. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2025

Further forward lies a galley, lobby, and an owner’s suite with an office, vanity, walk-in wardrobe, and en suite. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2025

Authorities recovered the fork used in the assault in a trash bin in the galley, the complaint said. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galeie, galey, borrowed from Anglo-French galee, galeie (continental Old French galee, galie), borrowed (probably in part via Upper Italian dialects) from Middle Greek galéa, after galéa "the shark Galeorhinus galeus," probably re-formation of Greek galeós, a name for the same fish, of uncertain origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing galley

• galley-west

Rhymes for galley

• alley
• alli
• bally
• calli
• challis
• dally
• galli
• lally
• mallee
• mally
• rally
• salley

Kids Definition

galley

noun

gal·​ley ˈgal-ē 

plural galleys

1

: a large low ship of olden times moved by oars and sails

2

: the kitchen especially of a ship or airplane