alley English · revision 15282

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1360–61}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæl.i/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|aley]], [[bor|fro|alee|t=a path, passage; a going]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from the feminine past participle of [[m|fro|aler|t=to go]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) whose origin is uncertain: perhaps a contraction of [[la|ambulō|t=to walk]] (Watkins; see [[amble]]),^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) or from [[m|la|allātus|t=brought to]], via a Gallo-Romance back-formation.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An open passage between buildings: 1360–61 in Barnhart, the mid-14th century in Etymonline, where it also meant a passage in a house and a garden walk.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The OED's first quotations are from 1382 for a garden walk and 1388 for a passage in a house.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A narrow street or lane is from about 1510,^(OED 1989) and a long narrow enclosure for bowls or skittles from about 1500.^(Etymonline) In American English it is especially a back lane parallel to a main street, from 1729.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''Up someone's alley'', in their area of interest, is from 1931,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and alley cat is attested by 1890.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1360–61 – aley, a passage.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1500 – a bowling alley.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1510 – a narrow street.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1729 – a back lane (US).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1931 – up someone's alley.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A narrow street or passage between or behind buildings.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A path in a garden or park, especially one lined with trees or bushes.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A long narrow lane for [[bowling]] or [[skittles]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(tennis)'' The strip between the singles and doubles sidelines.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[back-alley]]

+ * [[alleyway]]

+ * [[blind alley]]

+ * [[shaft alley]]

+ * [[alley cat]]

+ * [[bowling alley]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[amble]]

+ * [[ambulance]]

+ * [[allée]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different alley (also ''ally''), a large playing marble, is from 1720, said to be a shortening of [[alabaster]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) In northern and Midland dialect alley also meant the aisle of a church.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}