alley

Meaning

Noun

• A narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings.
• The area between the outfielders.
• An establishment where bowling is played.
• An elongated wooden strip of floor along which a bowling ball is rolled.
• The extra area between the sidelines or tramlines on a tennis court that is used for doubles matches.
• A walk or passage in a garden or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes.
• A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
• 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 glass marble or taw.

Origin

• From Middle English aley, from Old French alee, feminine of alé, past participle of aler (French aller). allée.
• Diminutive of alabaster, from which they were once made.