Alleyway

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈæ.li.weɪ/

Definitions

1. A slender pathway that typically runs between structures or properties and provides access or a shortcut to other areas
2. A confined route located between buildings, often utilized for pedestrian access or as a service entry
3. A thin path situated between buildings, often serving as a connector or passage

Etymology: "Alleyway" is a plain compound: "alley" joined to "way," so a narrow passage that is also a route. The older half, "alley," came into English from Old French "aleie," a word for a walkway or passage, which in turn grew out of "aller," to go. That makes an alley, at root, simply a place you go along. "Way" is one of the oldest words in the language, a native Old English noun for a road or path that has been in use for well over a thousand years. Putting the two together doubles up on the idea of passage, the sort of redundancy English is quite comfortable with, as in "pathway" or "doorway."

Synonyms: lane, passage, narrow street