galley

[gal-ee]

noun

plural

galleys 

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 Word Forms

• galleylike 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

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.

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The plane's owners said it offered passengers "super size comfort" including "8 leather club seats, a full size bed, fully stocked galley and cabin sound system".

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The Egyptian air accident investigation report concluded there was a "detonation of an explosive device secreted in the forward galley", the area just behind the cockpit.

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Her modest galley kitchen in Los Angeles retains its charming period tile and sky-high cabinets that reach the 14-foot ceiling.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But there was more space than usual in the galley because the carts were out for meal service.

Read more on BBC