galleon

/ˈgæljən/

/ˈgæljən/

Other forms: galleons

Though a galleon was a large ship with multiple decks, it was no cruise liner and probably didn’t offer round-the-clock buffets.

A galleon refers to a type of sailboat used in the 15th to 18th centuries mostly for battles and carrying consumer goods. Galleons had big square sails rigged onto several masts. They were built and sailed by many Europeans, but they are most commonly associated with the Spanish. In fact, this word is derived from the Spanish word galeón, which means “armed merchant ship.”

Definitions of galleon

1. noun

   a large square-rigged sailing ship with three or more masts; used by the Spanish for commerce and war from the 15th to 18th centuries
   types:

   carack, carrack

   a large galleon sailed in the Mediterranean as a merchantman

   type of:

   sailing ship, sailing vessel

   a vessel that is powered by the wind; often having several masts