galley

American  

[gal-ee] / ˈgæl i /

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.

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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

• galleylike adjective

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

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

From MarketWatch • Nov. 21, 2025

He urges athletes to choose window seats in the middle of the aircraft, away from the most-trafficked areas—the front, where everyone enters, and the rear, near the galley and the lavatories.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2025

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

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2025

A galley was loading turbie-oil; she was to sail at sunrise, bound for Havnor Great Port.

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin