alley
1
[ al-ee ]
/ ˈæl i /
noun, plural al·leys.
a passage, as through a continuous row of houses, permitting access from the street to backyards, garages, etc.
a narrow back street.
a walk, as in a garden, enclosed with hedges or shrubbery.
Bowling.
- a long, narrow, wooden lane or floor along which the ball is rolled.
- (often plural) a building for bowling.
- bowling green.
Tennis.
the space on each side of a tennis court between the doubles sideline and the service or singles sideline.
Rare.
an aisle.
Idioms for alley
up/down one's alley, Informal.
in keeping with or satisfying one's abilities, interests, or tastes: If you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley.
Origin of alley
1
1350–1400; Middle English
al(e)y < Middle French
alee walk, passage, derivative of feminine of
ale, past participle of
aler to walk (French
aller), probably < Vulgar Latin
*allārī, regularized from
allātus, the suppletive past participle of
afferre to bring (passive
afferrī to be moved, conveyed, to betake oneself); French
aller often allegedly < Latin
ambulāre to walk (see
amble), but this offers grave phonetic problems, since the
m and
b would not normally be lost
Words nearby alley
Definition for alley (2 of 2)
alley
2
[ al-ee ]
/ ˈæl i /
noun, plural al·leys. Chiefly Northeastern U.S.
a choice, large playing marble.
Origin of alley
2Example sentences from the Web for alley
British Dictionary definitions for alley (1 of 2)
alley
1
/ (ˈælɪ) /
noun
a narrow lane or passage, esp one between or behind buildings
See bowling alley
tennis, mainly US
the space between the singles and doubles sidelines
a walk in a park or garden, esp one lined with trees or bushes
up one's alley or down one's alley See street (def. 10)
Word Origin for alley
C14: from Old French
alee, from
aler to go, ultimately from Latin
ambulāre to walk
British Dictionary definitions for alley (2 of 2)
alley
2
/ (ˈælɪ) /
noun
a large playing marble
Word Origin for alley
C18: shortened and changed from
alabaster
Idioms and Phrases with alley
alley