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DictionarygalleonHistorical sailing ship
noun

galleon

GAL-ee-un/ˈɡæliən/

A large sailing ship historically used for trade or war.

The galleon carries sails on three tall masts.

A sixteenth-century large wooden galleon with three masts, square sails on fore and main mast, lateen mizzen, high sterncastle and deep hull, sensible attached rigging, no flags or lettering; white sea vignette.
Etymology
galleSpanishgalley
+onSpanishlarge

The pieces name a large galley, but the galleon developed into a distinct ship type, broader and higher-sterned than a galley. Its use as an armed merchant ship links trade and warfare in the modern definition.

In context

Kings and Generals15:07
Hawkins was reinforced by the Ark Royal and another galleon. Medina Sidonia’s San Martin joined the fight, leading to a gunnery duel between the two flagships.
Spanish Armada: How England Defended Itself - Early Modern History

More examples

  • A painting showed the galleon under full sail.
  • Divers examined the wreck of a Spanish galleon.
  • The model included the galleon’s high stern.

Forms

galleon · galleons

Similar words

galley
A galley was propelled chiefly by oars; a galleon was a large sailing ship.
schooner
A schooner has a different sail arrangement and is generally associated with later sailing traditions.