Gal"le*on (?), n. [Sp. galeon, cf. F. galion; fr. LL. galeo, galio. See Galley.] Naut.
A sailing vessel of the 15th and following centuries, often having three or four decks, and used for war or commerce. The term is often rather indiscriminately applied to any large sailing vessel.
The gallens . . . were huge, round-stemmed, clumsy vessels, with bulwarks three or four feet thick, and built up at stem and stern, like castels.
Motley.
© Webster 1913.