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

In summer 2022, Puglisi fell asleep in the galley after getting high. —C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024

The two hulls are home guest accommodation for 12, the main galley, and the crew quarters, while the wheelhouse serves as an adaptable entertainment space with another bar and alfresco seating. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 May 2024

The three-bedroom home has marine pastel interiors, a central spiral staircase, a galley pass-through kitchen, a large dining area, and an airy bunk room overlooking the pool. —The Week Staff, theweek, 14 May 2024

Improvising in the galley, Barbie Googles how to make a BLT. —Emma Soren, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2024

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

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