galley

Galley refers to two or more related meanings: a type of ship and a shipboard kitchen, with a third use in printing. In nautical history, a galley is a slender, oared vessel used in the ancient Mediterranean, particularly by the Greeks and Romans. Galleys were long and shallow, with multiple banks of rowers; sails were sometimes used to assist propulsion. They played a central role in naval warfare, coastal transport, and piracy from roughly the 8th century BCE into late antiquity. Variants included biremes, triremes, and quinqueremes, named for the number of oar banks. Crews might include free rowers or slaves, and battles often relied on speed, maneuverability, and ramming capabilities.

The term also denotes the ship’s kitchen, the galley, where meals are prepared aboard ships, submarines, or aircraft. In modern vessels, the galley contains cooking equipment, refrigeration, and storage for crew and passengers.

In publishing, a galley is a long tray used to hold type for arranging text before final page composition; a galley proof is an early typeset specimen used for proofreading and correction prior to printing.

The word survives in nautical and maritime contexts and is occasionally used metaphorically to refer to any kitchen area on a vehicle.