Where does “alley” come from?
I notice there's a mismatch in your request. The etymology chain you've provided traces "alabaster" (a type of stone), but the headword you've asked me to write about is "alley" (a narrow passage), and these have different origins.
Could you clarify which word you'd like me to write the etymology for? Should I write about:
1. **Alabaster** (using the chain provided), or
2. **Alley** (which would need a different etymological chain)?
Once you confirm, I'll write the one-sentence summary following all your rules.
alley (English): A narrow street or passageway, especially one...
Definitions
- A narrow street or passageway, especially one...
Ancestry of “alley”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | aleye | — |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | aleie | — |
| 3 | Old French | alé | — |
| 4 | Old French | aler | to go |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | alare | second-person singular present passive... |
Words derived from “alley”