Galleass
/ˌɡæl.iˈæs/noun
A large, heavily armed galley used chiefly in the Mediterranean from the sixteenth to the seventeenth century.
Did you know?Several Spanish Armada galleasses carried massive forward-facing guns and helped transform oared Mediterranean vessels into powerful floating artillery platforms.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
γαλέα (galea)
“A type of galley or oared warship; the exact deeper origin is uncertain.”
Late Latin
Latin
galea
“A galley, borrowed from Greek maritime usage.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
galeacea
“A large galley, formed with an augmentative suffix.”
15th Century
Italian
galeazza
“A large or imposing galley, especially a heavily armed one.”
16th Century
French
galeasse
“A large galley or warship.”
16th Century
English
galleass
“A large, heavily armed galley.”