galleys

Galleys are ships designed primarily for propulsion by oars, used widely in the ancient Mediterranean and into the medieval period. They were fast and maneuverable, with crews commanded from the oar banks. Most were propelled by multiple rows of oars and, in addition, could carry sails for longer movement. The hulls were long and slender, optimized for speed, and many armed galleys featured a ram on the prow to pierce enemy ships. Classical types included biremes and triremes.

In Greek and Roman times, galleys formed the mainstay of fleets and played a central role in naval warfare, boarding actions, and reconnaissance. They spread to Byzantine, Carthaginian, and various medieval navies, and were refined into larger and more powerful forms. The rise of sailing warships in later centuries reduced their strategic dominance, though galleys continued to be used in some regions for a time.

By the early modern era, galleys persisted in limited regional roles—most notably in the Ottoman and some Italian states' navies—before being largely superseded by sailing ships and, later, steam-powered vessels.

Beyond ships, the term galley also appears in other senses. A ship's galley is the kitchen where food is prepared at sea. In the printing industry, a galley is a long tray used to arrange type for typesetting, and galley proofs are preliminary prints used to check composition before final production.