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

On cold-weather cruises like mine, the event switches to a galley lunch, with buffet tables positioned throughout Amphora’s kitchen area. — Erica Silverstein, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026

On my desk, amid newspapers, galleys, and an electric bill is a wooden matryoshka doll. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Other enhancements included a reduced cabin altitude of 4,850 feet, improved soundproofing, a larger galley, and a new 24-inch 4K video display. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026

About 20 minutes north of Denver, this 1955 ranch home has a chalet studio ADU with a bed nook, a pass-through galley kitchen, laundry, and a deck. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 27 July 2026

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