trireme

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an ancient Mediterranean war galley propelled chiefly by oars arranged in three banks on each side

   The reconstructed trireme demonstrated how a large crew of rowers could drive the narrow warship at speed.

From Latin triremis, literally 'three-oared', formed from tri-, 'three', and remus, 'oar'; compare Ancient Greek trieres for the same vessel. The name refers to the three vertically arranged banks of oars that distinguished the war galley.

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