galley

noun

gal·​ley ˈga-lē 

plural galleys

1

: a ship or boat propelled solely or chiefly by oars: such as

a

: a long low ship used for war and trading especially in the Mediterranean Sea from the Middle Ages to the 19th century

also : galleass

b

: a warship of classical antiquity compare bireme, trireme

c

: a large open boat (such as a gig) formerly used in England

2

: the kitchen and cooking apparatus especially of a ship or airplane

3

a

: an oblong tray to hold especially a single column of set type

b

: a proof of typeset matter especially in a single column before being made into pages

Illustration of galley

• galley 1a

Examples of galley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The next morning, in the galley with Bárbara, Fraser draws a diagram of the boatmance dynamics, coming to the conclusion that all lines lead to Solène. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025

The designer started by rejiggering the galley layout to provide two distinct spaces, an informal dining spot and a working kitchen. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025

In court, prosecutors warned other church members looking on from the galley that the state would continue to prosecute other parents who ignore medical needs and instead rely on prayer. —Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025

The majority of the lower deck is dedicated to the crew, with four double cabins, a crew mess, a laundry, and a professional galley. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galeie, galey, borrowed from Anglo-French galee, galeie (continental Old French galee, galie), borrowed (probably in part via Upper Italian dialects) from Middle Greek galéa, after galéa "the shark Galeorhinus galeus," probably re-formation of Greek galeós, a name for the same fish, of uncertain origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing galley

• galley-west

Rhymes for galley

• alley
• alli
• bally
• calli
• challis
• dally
• galli
• lally
• mallee
• mally
• rally
• salley

Kids Definition

galley

noun

gal·​ley ˈgal-ē 

plural galleys

1

: a large low ship of olden times moved by oars and sails

2

: the kitchen especially of a ship or airplane