galleass

noun

gal·​le·​ass ˈga-lē-əs How to pronounce galleass (audio)
: a large fast galley used especially as a warship by Mediterranean countries in the 16th and 17th centuries and having both sails and oars but usually propelled chiefly by rowing

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French gallyace, galeasse, borrowed from Italian galeazza, from galea galley + -azza, augmentative suffix

First Known Use

1544, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of galleass was in 1544

Dictionary Entries Near galleass

Cite this Entry

“Galleass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galleass. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on galleass

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!