alley Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a narrow street with walls on both sides
    alleyway; back street.
  2. noun a lane down which a bowling ball is rolled toward pins
    skittle alley; bowling alley.

WordNet


Al"ley noun
Etymology
OE. aley, alley, OF. alée, F. allée, a going, passage, fr. OE. aler, F. aller, to go; of uncertain origin: cf. Prov. anar, It. andare, Sp. andar.
Wordforms
plural Alleys
Definitions
  1. A narrow passage; especially a walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes; a bordered way.
    I know each lane and every alley green. Milton.
  2. A narrow passage or way in a city, as distinct from a public street. Gay.
  3. A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
  4. (Persp.) Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of length.
  5. The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing office.
Al"ley noun
Etymology
A contraction of alabaster, of which it was originally made.
Wordforms
plural Alleys
Definitions
  1. A choice taw or marble. Dickens.

Webster 1913