From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
alley
n 1: a narrow street with walls on both sides [syn: alleyway,
back street]
2: a lane down which a bowling ball is rolled toward pins [syn:
bowling alley, skittle alley]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Alley \Al"ley\, n.; pl. Alleys. [A contraction of alabaster,
of which it was originally made.]
A choice taw or marble. --Dickens.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Alley \Al"ley\, n.; pl. Alleys. [OE. aley, alley, OF. al['e]e,
F. all['e]e, a going, passage, fr. OE. aler, F. aller, to go;
of uncertain origin: cf. Prov. anar, It. andare, Sp. andar.]
1. A narrow passage; especially a walk or passage in a garden
or park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes; a bordered
way.
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I know each lane and every alley green. --Milton.
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2. A narrow passage or way in a city, as distinct from a
public street. --Gay.
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3. A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
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4. (Persp.) Any passage having the entrance represented as
wider than the exit, so as to give the appearance of
length.
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5. The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a
printing office.
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