galley

American  

[gal-ee] / ˈgæl i /

noun

• galleys
  plural

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

2. Nautical.

   1. a seagoing vessel propelled mainly by oars, used in ancient and medieval times, sometimes with the aid of sails.

   2. a long rowboat, as one used as a ship's boat by a warship or one used for dragging a seine.

   3. (formerly, in the U.S. Navy) a shoal-draft vessel, variously rigged, relying mainly on its sails but able to be rowed by sweeps.

3. Printing.

   1. a long, narrow tray, usually of metal, for holding type that has been set.

   2. galley proof.

   3. a rough unit of measurement, about 22 inches (56 centimeters), for type composition.

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galley British  

/ ˈɡælɪ /

noun

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

2. the kitchen of a ship, boat, or aircraft

3. any of various long rowing boats

4. printing

   1. (in hot-metal composition) a tray open at one end for holding composed type

   2. short for galley proof

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• galleylike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• galleys
  plural

Etymology

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

Explanation

A galley is a long ship propelled by oars, and possibly sails as well. You're not likely to see a galley these days: they were used from ancient to medieval times. You may have seen movies portraying old ships with dozens of rowers, lined up on benches. Those ships are galleys. Galleys were used for more than a thousand years, and they played an important role in both war and trade. If someone today says they’ve been in a galley, you can assume they aren’t referring to this kind of ship. They probably mean the galley, or the kitchen area, of a ship or airplane.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

galley galleys

As for the movie, Fremar said that its “fantasy element” made it possible for her to enjoy it as entertainment, rather than the galley that stung her feelings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

It culminated with the burning of a replica galley - a Viking long ship - that the main squad had built themselves throughout the year.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2026

One of her rules: Pick a seat away from the bathroom or galley.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 4, 2026

The galley kitchen has a countertop with seats, stainless appliances, and a glossy marble floor.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 21, 2025

There were three regiments, whose march in time to a galley drum made the earth tremble.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

“It came to me very early in galleys of the book,” Field says, speaking over video call from her home in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026

They doubled the size of the galleys, expanded the stage and made room for a Marvel stunt show and 12 themed restaurants, including a Pixar buffet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026

After two years of mostly small exchanges — cookbook galleys, costume jewelry, a set of dinner plates with just the right heft — we brought home something that, improbably, shifted the cadence of our cooking.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2025

The galleys are closed as often as not, and dispensing machines have handwritten out-of-order signs taped on them.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 28, 2023

Downriver, the Black- water was jammed with the hulks of burning galleys.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin