Definition of GALLEY

galley

Meanings

Plural: galleys, gallies

Noun

  • a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading
  • (classical antiquity) a crescent-shaped seagoing vessel propelled by oars
  • the kitchen area for food preparation on an airliner
  • the area for food preparation on a ship
  • A long, slender ship propelled primarily by oars, whether having masts and sails or not; usually a rowed warship used in the Mediterranean from the 16th century until the modern era.
  • A light, open boat used on the Thames by customhouse officers, press gangs, and also for pleasure.
  • One of the small boats carried by a man-of-war.
  • The cookroom or kitchen and cooking apparatus of a vessel or aircraft; sometimes on merchant vessels called the caboose.
  • An oblong oven or muffle with a battery of retorts; a gallery furnace.
  • An oblong tray of wood or brass, with upright sides, for holding type which has been set, or is to be made up, etc.
  • A proof sheet taken from type while on a galley; a galley proof.
  • A representation of a single-masted ship propelled by oars, with three flags and a basket.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English galeie, from Old French galee, from Latin galea, from Byzantine Greek γάλεα (gálea) of unknown origin, probably from Ancient Greek γαλέη (galéē), a kind of a small fish, from γαλεός (galeós, “dog-fish or small shark”). Doublet of galea.

Synonyms

caboose, cookhouse, lymphad, ship's galley

Scrabble Score: 10

galley is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
galley is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
galley is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

galley is a valid Words With Friends word