galley

[ gal-ee ]

noun

, plural gal·leys.

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.

galley

/ 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

Other Words From

• galley·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of galley¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of galley¹

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

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Outside Online

I’m also a book critic, and I’ve spotted a trend in the galleys that land on my porch.

From Washington Post

I sent his publicist a galley of the book after it was finished.

From The Daily Beast

Unable to change the diaper in the bathroom, I stepped out into the galley, and scanned the area for a flat surface.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

A key clue to this was, he said, from shelves in the galley that were compressed from the bottom up.

From The Daily Beast

And as fast as they could carry a galley of type from the dump, another galley would just materialize there.

From Project Gutenberg

He therefore fitted five out of near thirty small prizes to accompany him, and built a galley frigate to land with.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the bones a few galley halfpence, and other coins, were found, as also a considerable number of abbey counters or jettons.

From Project Gutenberg

The floor was littered with paper and proofs; on the desk a slip of galley proof lay.

From Project Gutenberg

Heavy seas washed the deck, and kept out the galley fires, so that warm food had not been procurable.

From Project Gutenberg