galley proof

American  

noun

Printing.

1. a proof, originally one set from type in a galley, taken before the material has been made up into pages and usually printed as a single column of type with wide margins for marking corrections.

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galley proof British  

noun

1. Often shortened to: galley.  a printer's proof, esp one taken on a long strip of paper from type in a galley, used to make corrections before the matter has been split into pages

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Etymology

Origin of galley proof

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

If journalism is the first draft of history, documentary filmmaking is often an overdue, dog-eared galley proof with no cover art.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

Cuarón received the 2015 novel that the series is based on from author Renée Knight about a decade ago as a galley proof.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2024

For the next seven years or so, all the way to galley proof in 1984, McCarthy whittled Blood Meridian down into the lean nightmare we now know.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2012

After okaying the galley proof, Editor Leach scribbled a headline: "The Revolt Against Crime."

From Time Magazine Archive

“Good-night, my dear; I shall be at work on my galley proof till daylight.”

From Ainslee's, Vol. 15, No. 5, June 1905 by Various