1. a large, heavily armed sailing ship of the 16th and 17th centuries, typically with three or four masts and both sails and oars.
Usage: nautical; historical; also spelled 'galleas'

Examples

• The Spanish galliass was a formidable vessel in naval warfare during the Renaissance.
• Galliasses combined the speed of sailing ships with the maneuverability of oared galleys.
• The fleet included several galliasses equipped with cannons along their sides.
• Medieval navies relied on galliasses for both exploration and military campaigns.
• A galliass could carry more cargo and firepower than smaller merchant vessels.