alley1
n.
(pl. alleys)
- a narrow passageway between or behind buildings.
▸a path in a park or garden.
- a long, narrow area in which skittles or bowling are played.
- N. Amer. Tennis either of the two side strips between the service court and the sidelines.
▸Baseball the area between the outfielders in left-centre or right-centrefield.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. alee ‘walking or passage’, from aler ‘go’, from L. ambulare ‘to walk’.