English · Slang Attested

galley slave

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A typesetter (person who arranged type in a galley for printing).

Where it’s used: Used American English

The "galley slaves" in those days were the genuine article, and by the "chains that bound them" were no doubt the original members of the union.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “galley slave” mean?

A typesetter (person who arranged type in a galley for printing).

Is “galley slave” formal or informal?

galley slave is generally slang.

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