Alley
Preserved but no longer current.
Also seen as: Ally
A choice, large playing-marble made of stone or alabaster, from which it takes its name. The alley tor (more cor- rectly taw) beloved of Master Bardell (Pick- wick Papers, 34) was a special ally that had won many taws or games.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Alley” mean?
A choice, large playing-marble made of stone or alabaster, from which it takes its name. The alley tor (more cor- rectly taw) beloved of Master Bardell (Pick- wick Papers, 34) was a special ally that had won many taws or games.
Is “Alley” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.