Plural of galleon; large sailing ships used for exploration and trade during the 16th-17th centuries.
From Spanish galeón, derived from galley. The word evolved to describe the larger, more advanced merchant and warships of the Age of Exploration.
Spanish galleons carrying treasure from the Americas were so heavily laden with gold and silver that they moved slowly through the water, making them perfect targets for pirates—and some still sit on ocean floors waiting to be discovered!
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