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alley1 definition

al·ley (alē)

noun pl. alleys -·leys

  1. a lane in a garden or park, bordered by trees or shrubs
  2. a narrow street or walk, specif., a lane behind or alongside a row of buildings or between two rows of buildings that face on adjacent streets
  3. Baseball the part of the outfield between center field and either left field or right field
  4. Bowling lane (senses & )
  5. Tennis either of the narrow lanes, on opposite sides of the court, that extend the singles area for playing doubles

Etymology: ME aly < OFr alee < aler (Fr aller), to go < ML alare, contr. < L ambulare, to walk: see amble

alley Idioms

up someone's alley

or down someone's alley
Slang suited to someone's tastes or abilities
alley2 definition

al·ley (alē)

noun pl. alleys -·leys

a fine marble used as the shooter in playing marbles

Etymology: < alabaster, formerly used for marbles

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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