galley

[ gal-ee ]

/ ˈgæl i /

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noun, plural gal·leys.

a kitchen or an area with kitchen facilities in a ship, plane, or camper.

Nautical.

a seagoing vessel propelled mainly by oars, used in ancient and medieval times, sometimes with the aid of sails.
a long rowboat, as one used as a ship's boat by a warship or one used for dragging a seine.
(formerly, in the U.S. Navy) a shoal-draft vessel, variously rigged, relying mainly on its sails but able to be rowed by sweeps.

Printing.

a long, narrow tray, usually of metal, for holding type that has been set.
galley proof.
a rough unit of measurement, about 22 inches (56 centimeters), for type composition.

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Origin of galley

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English galei(e), from Old French galee, galie, perhaps from Old Provençal galea, from Late Greek galéa, galaía

OTHER WORDS FROM galley

gal·ley·like, adjective

Words nearby galley

gallerygoer, galleryite, gallery tray, gallery wire, gallet, galley, galley proof, galley slave, galley-west, gallfly, Gallia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use galley in a sentence

This raised its bow high enough so that the vessel rode halfway over the chain, at which point everyone immediately raced forward to elevate the galley’s back half, allowing the ship to slide down into open water.
If you love heroic fantasy a la George R.R. Martin, you’ll love ‘The Last Viking’|Michael Dirda|September 22, 2021|Washington Post
Here is the excerpt he wants you to hear from the new edition of Nudge about revising the galleys — that’s the nearly-final version of a book that authors are allowed to edit before the book is published.
All You Need Is Nudge (Ep. 474)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 9, 2021|Freakonomics
The galley has residential-style fixtures with an aesthetic I’d call “modern luxury condo,” including a stainless-steel stove and oven, microwave, and sink.
Tested: Airstream’s New Remote-Work Trailer|mlarsen|August 5, 2021|Outside Online
I gravitated toward the convenience of the glossy, soft-close overhead cabinets lining the ceiling around the galley and bedroom and the low drawers beneath the sofa and in the office.
Tested: Airstream’s New Remote-Work Trailer|mlarsen|August 5, 2021|Outside Online

I’m also a book critic, and I’ve spotted a trend in the galleys that land on my porch.
For today’s feminist writers, sex makes a comeback|Meredith Maran|June 17, 2021|Washington Post
I sent his publicist a galley of the book after it was finished.
A Full-Length Bill Cosby Portrait: From Track Star to Ugly Sweaters|Scott Porch|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unable to change the diaper in the bathroom, I stepped out into the galley, and scanned the area for a flat surface.
The National-Security Diaper Scramble|Philip Shishkin|April 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Our anti-Sully is a guy who flies on the heels of a coke binge and pours his own cocktails in the galley.
Real Pilots Laugh at ‘Flight’|Patrick Smith|November 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A key clue to this was, he said, from shelves in the galley that were compressed from the bottom up.
How Flight 447 Fell Intact From the Sky|Clive Irving|July 2, 2009|DAILY BEAST
And as fast as they could carry a galley of type from the dump, another galley would just materialize there.
Nine Men in Time|Noel Miller Loomis
He therefore fitted five out of near thirty small prizes to accompany him, and built a galley frigate to land with.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
Among the bones a few galley halfpence, and other coins, were found, as also a considerable number of abbey counters or jettons.
Notes and Queries, Number 194, July 16, 1853|Various
The floor was littered with paper and proofs; on the desk a slip of galley proof lay.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
Heavy seas washed the deck, and kept out the galley fires, so that warm food had not been procurable.
Jaffery|William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for galley

galley

/ (ˈɡælɪ) /

noun

any of various kinds of ship propelled by oars or sails used in ancient or medieval times as a warship or as a trader

the kitchen of a ship, boat, or aircraft

any of various long rowing boats

printing

(in hot-metal composition) a tray open at one end for holding composed type
short for galley proof

Word Origin for galley

C13: from Old French galie, from Medieval Latin galea, from Greek galaia, of unknown origin; the sense development apparently is due to the association of a galley or slave ship with a ship's kitchen and hence with a hot furnace, trough, printer's tray, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

galley

Origin of galley

OTHER WORDS FROM galley

Words nearby galley

Words related to galley

How to use galley in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for galley

Word Origin for galley