galley

Where does the word "galley" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin galea, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Galley’s story begins in Medieval Latin: galea meant “galley.” From Byzantine Greek 'galaia'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as galie. Oared warships of the Mediterranean. It reached English by 1200s as galley. A ship's kitchen was called the galley from the 1700s. Today, galley means a ship's kitchen; a low oared ship.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval galea "galley", from Byzantine Greek 'galaia'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval galie "galley", oared warships of the Mediterranean.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s galley "oared ship", a ship's kitchen was called the galley from the 1700s.