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

Lavatories and galleys are also being updated, and the entire fleet is getting upgraded Wi-Fi service, which is free for WestJet Rewards members. —Eve Chen, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025

Aesha brings news of the deck team’s disaster to the galley. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025

The menu exudes exquisite flavors, and whether you’re seated in the living room, the galley or on the terrace, the atmosphere is that of a dear friend’s home. —Kristen Tribe, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025

There are built-ins upon built-ins, a private terrace, and accidentally chic-again butter-yellow cabinetry in the galley kitchen. —Katie McDonough, Curbed, 6 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