alley

¹

[ al-ee ]

noun

, plural al·leys.

1. a passage, as through a continuous row of houses, permitting access from the street to backyards, garages, etc.
2. a narrow back street.
3. a walk, as in a garden, enclosed with hedges or shrubbery.
4. Bowling.
   1. a long, narrow, wooden lane or floor along which the ball is rolled.
   2. (often plural) a building for bowling.
   3. bowling green ( defs ).
5. Tennis. the space on each side of a tennis court between the doubles sideline and the service or singles sideline.
6. Rare. an aisle.

alley

²

[ al-ee ]

noun

, Chiefly Northeastern U.S.

, plural al·leys.

1. a choice, large playing marble.

alley

¹

/ ˈælɪ /

noun

1. a large playing marble

alley

²

/ ˈælɪ /

noun

1. a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or behind buildings
2. See bowling alley
   See bowling alley
3. tennis the space between the singles and doubles sidelines
4. a walk in a park or garden, esp one lined with trees or bushes
5. See street
   up one's alley
   up one's alleydown one's alley See street

Word History and Origins

Origin of alley¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English al(e)y, from Middle French alee “walk, passage,” noun use of feminine of ale, past participle of aler “to walk,” probably from unattested Vulgar Latin allārī, from allātus, past participle of afferre “to bring”; amble

Origin of alley²

First recorded in 1710–20; probably al(abaster) + -y ², spelling to conform with alley ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of alley¹

C18: shortened and changed from alabaster

Origin of alley²

C14: from Old French alee, from aler to go, ultimately from Latin ambulāre to walk

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. up / down one's alley, Informal. in keeping with or satisfying one's abilities, interests, or tastes:

   If you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley.

More idioms and phrases containing alley

In addition to the idiom beginning with alley , also see blind alley ; right up one's alley .

Synonym Study

See street.

Example Sentences

The picture you took of the boy lying in the alley also seemed to strike a chord.

From The Daily Beast

The meeting place of human rights and criminal justice in Iran is like a dark and frightening alley.

From The Daily Beast

The alley cat and her kittens would have mugged him already.

From The Daily Beast

He said his cousin had been found dead in an alley and he had to rush home.

From The Daily Beast

It had rained while we were inside and the air in the alley smelled almost fresh.

From The Daily Beast

Truly it was a most enjoyable season and experience, but there is no joy without its alley here below—not even at the North Pole!

From Project Gutenberg

He turned into an alley, down which, nautically speaking, he rolled into a shabby little court.

From Project Gutenberg

I turned right into a narrow street, went along it about fifty yards, and paused where it was crossed by a still narrower alley.

From Project Gutenberg

From the set of his shoulders, it seemed that he might be just as glad the alley was dim; but he simply trailed along behind.

From Project Gutenberg

I cannot put my own case to the Admiralty although the machines are wanted for overland tactics—a fatal blind alley.

From Project Gutenberg