chiurm

noun

plural -s

obsolete

: a gang of galley slaves

Word History

Etymology

French & Italian; French chiourme from Italian ciurma, from Latin celeusma, command given by head oarsman so that rowers can keep in time, from Greek keleusma, keleuma command, command given to rowers, from keleuein to command, incite; akin to Greek kellein to land a ship, drive on

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