1. the public; the street (e.g. "word on the street")
今、巷で言われてる事が気になるんだ。I'm concerned about what people are saying these days.
2. street; district; quarters
大勢の市民が巷を行き交っている。Crowds of citizens are coming and going in the streets.
3. location (e.g. of a battle); scene (e.g. of carnage)
町は戦乱の巷と化した。The town became a scene of war and chaos.
4. divide (e.g. between life and death)
彼は何日も生死の巷をさまよった。He hovered between life and death for days.
5. fork (in a road); crossroads
orig. meaning