1. Plural of galliass; large, heavily armed sailing ships used by European navies from the 16th to 18th centuries, combining features of galleys and galleons.
Usage: nautical; historical; plural form

Examples

• The Spanish fleet included several galliasses that were formidable in battle.
• Galliasses were designed to be more stable than galleys in rough seas.
• The Mediterranean navies deployed galliasses as their primary warships during the Renaissance.
• These galliasses combined oars and sails for greater maneuverability.
• Historical records describe galliasses as the bridge between medieval galleys and modern sailing ships.