noun
alley
A narrow lane used for rolling bowling balls.
Her bowling ball rolls straight down the alley toward the pins.
Etymology
Old French alee named a passage or walkway. The bowling sense applies that long, narrow passage-like shape to the lane along which a ball is rolled.
More examples
- The family spends Saturday evening at the bowling alley.
- The ball veers toward the edge of the alley.
- Both local bowling alleys host youth leagues.
Forms
alley · alleys
Similar words
- lane
- The standard term for the individual bowling surface.
- bowling center
- Specifically names the entire facility rather than one lane.