# galley

/ˈɡæɫi/ (US) · /ɡˈæli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/galley
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. kitchen on a ship or plane

noun · CEFR B2

the kitchen area on a ship, boat, or airplane.

For teachers: the kitchen and cooking facilities on a vessel or aircraft.

- The flight attendants prepared the meal trays in the galley at the back of the plane.
- Space is extremely limited in the galley, so the crew must keep every utensil in its designated place to ensure safety during turbulence.

### 2. historical rowing ship

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic

a long, thin ship from history that was moved by people using oars.

For teachers: a low, flat-built vessel with one or more sails, propelled primarily by oars, historically used for war and commerce in the Mediterranean.

- In ancient times, the Roman galley was a powerful ship in naval battles.
- The archaeological team discovered the remains of a sixteenth-century galley, still containing the heavy wooden oars used by the rowers.

### 3. printing proof

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a printed copy of a text used for checking mistakes before the final printing.

For teachers: a printer's proof taken from composed type before it is arranged into pages.

- The author spent the weekend checking the galleys for any spelling errors.
- Before the final publication, the editor sent the galley proofs to the author for a last round of corrections and formatting adjustments.

Usage: Often used in the compound form 'galley proof'.

## Examples

- The flight attendant prepared the coffee in the galley.
- Space is extremely limited in the ship's galley, so every utensil must be stored in a specific place.
- While the ancient galley relied on the rhythmic rowing of hundreds of men, the modern vessel's galley is a marvel of compact engineering designed to feed a full crew.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.