galley: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “galley” mean?
A large, low ship propelled mainly by oars, used in ancient and medieval times, especially for war or piracy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, low ship propelled mainly by oars, used in ancient and medieval times, especially for war or piracy.
1. The kitchen compartment on a ship, boat, or aircraft. 2. A printer's proof in the form of a long single-column sheet, used for making corrections before the text is divided into pages (also 'galley proof').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is used identically in both varieties for all senses.
Connotations
Evokes historical/nautical imagery. In publishing, it is a standard technical term.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general language. Higher frequency in specific domains like maritime industries, aviation, and publishing.
Grammar
How to Use “galley” in a Sentence
The [crew] worked in the galley.A [fleet] of galleys approached.The [author] reviewed the galley.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts of shipping, aviation catering, or publishing ('approve the galleys').
Academic
Used in historical, archaeological, or classical studies to describe ancient naval vessels.
Everyday
Most likely used when discussing travel on ships or planes ('The food comes from the galley.').
Technical
Core term in maritime studies, aviation, and the printing/publishing industry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “galley”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “galley”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “galley”
- Using 'galley' to refer to a regular home kitchen (it's specific to vehicles).
- Misspelling as 'gally' or 'galey'.
- Confusing 'galley proof' with a simple draft.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its most common modern use is for the kitchen on any vessel (ship, boat, yacht) or aircraft. It also has a specialized meaning in publishing.
A 'galley' in publishing is short for 'galley proof'—a preliminary print of text for checking before it's formatted into pages. The other senses are unrelated to printing.
Yes, but mostly metaphorically to describe someone who works extremely hard at tedious tasks, not in a literal historical sense.
The term transferred from the name of the ship itself ('galley') to its most prominent internal workspace—the kitchen—because such kitchens were a distinctive feature of those vessels.
A large, low ship propelled mainly by oars, used in ancient and medieval times, especially for war or piracy.
Galley is usually technical / historical in register.
Galley: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡæli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡæli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Galley slave: 1. A person forced to row on a galley. 2. A person subjected to arduous, menial work.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'galley' as a 'gallery' for cooking and sailing – a long, narrow space where food or oarsmen are lined up.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SHIP/VEHICLE IS A WORKPLACE (with a specialized kitchen). HISTORY IS A LAYER (where older meanings like 'ship' persist beneath modern ones like 'kitchen').
Practice
Quiz
In a modern publishing context, what is a 'galley'?