alley Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a narrow street with walls on both sides
alleyway; back street.
noun a lane down which a bowling ball is rolled toward pins
skittle alley; bowling alley.

OE. aley, alley, OF. alée, F. allée, a going, passage, fr. OE. aler, F. aller, to go; of uncertain origin: cf. Prov. anar, It. andare, Sp. andar.

plural Alleys

A narrow passage; especially a walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes; a bordered way.
I know each lane and every alley green. Milton.
A narrow passage or way in a city, as distinct from a public street. Gay.
A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
(Persp.) Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of length.
The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing office.

A contraction of alabaster, of which it was originally made.

plural Alleys