gally: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareArchaic / Dialectal / Nautical (Historic)
Quick answer
What does “gally” mean?
To frighten or scare, especially of birds or animals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To frighten or scare, especially of birds or animals.
To cause (birds or livestock) to become frightened and run off; to make someone feel uneasy or intimidated; to make a ship look showy or gallant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, it's a rare dialectal word, found in rural/agricultural contexts. In the US, it is virtually unknown and would be considered an archaism.
Connotations
UK: rustic, local speech, possibly from Old English roots. US: likely unrecognized or mistaken for 'gall' or 'gully'.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Most British speakers would not know it. American usage is essentially zero.
Grammar
How to Use “gally” in a Sentence
Subject (agent) + gally + Object (birds/animals)Subject (sailor/ship) + gally (intransitive)To be galled (passive/obsolete)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gally” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farmer's dog would gally the pheasants from the field.
- Don't shout, you'll gally the flock.
American English
- (Historic) The old wives' tale said a scarecrow could gally crows.
adjective
British English
- (Extremely rare) He had a gally look about him.
- (Not standard)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or dialect studies.
Everyday
Effectively not used.
Technical
Obsolete nautical term for making a ship look smart.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gally”
- Using it in modern contexts.
- Confusing it with 'gallery' or 'gallop'.
- Assuming it is a common verb for 'to annoy' (that's 'gall').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or dialectal.
Not in standard usage. It is primarily a verb. The noun 'gally' can refer to a type of ship (galley), but that's a different word with different etymology.
You might find it in old regional dialect dictionaries, historical texts about farming, or very old nautical records.
'Gally' (to frighten) is unrelated to 'gall' (bitterness, to annoy or chafe). They are homophones but have distinct origins and meanings.
To frighten or scare, especially of birds or animals.
Gally is usually archaic / dialectal / nautical (historic) in register.
Gally: 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
- “To gally the crows”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Gally' sounds like 'scally' (scallywag) who might frighten the birds away.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRIGHTENING IS CHASING OFF (METAPHOR OF FORCED MOVEMENT)
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of the archaic/dialectal verb 'to gally'?