Galley
/ˈɡæli/noun
A long, low ship propelled mainly by oars, especially one used in the Mediterranean.
Did you know?Galley ultimately comes from Greek words for a type of ship, and the same ancient maritime root also produced words for a boat and for a kind of fish in related languages.
Etymological Timeline
Modern English
English
galley
“a long, low ship propelled mainly by oars”
Middle English
Anglo-French
galee
“a galley; a ship of the Mediterranean type”
Medieval Latin
Latin
galea
“a galley, ship”
Late Greek
Greek
galea
“a kind of ship”
Ancient Greek
Greek
galea
“a type of fishing boat or small vessel”