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
SYNONYMS FOR alley
2 See
street.
Words nearby alley
British Dictionary definitions for up one's 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 up one's 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 up one's alley (1 of 2)
up one's alley
see under right up one's alley.
Idioms and Phrases with up one's alley (2 of 2)
alley